n  m 


PC-NRLF 


LIFE  OF 


HEROINE 

BARBARA  FRITCHIE, 


INCLUDING  A 


BRIEF    BUT    COMPREHENSIVE    SKETCH 


OF 


HISTORIC  "OLD  FREDERICK, 


BY  HENRY  M.  NIXDORFF. 


FOURTH  EDITION. 


FREDERICK,   MD. 

Great  Southern  Pig.  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Printers  and  Publishers. 
1906. 


,  (o\ 

F15N5 

\Q05 


COPYRIGHT,  1897 

BY 

HENRY  M.  NIXDORFF 


JOHN  G.  WHITTIER 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE. 

BY  JOHN  G.  WHITTIER. 


Up  from  the  meadows  rich  with  corn, 
Clear  in  the  cool  September  morn, 

The  clustered  spires  of  Frederick  stand 
Green- walled  by  the  hills  of  Maryland. 

Bound  about  them  orchards  sweep, 
Apple  and  peach-tree  fruited  deep, 

Fair  as  a  garden  of  the  LonJ 

To  the  eyes  of  the  famished  rebel  horde, 

On  that  pleasant  morn  of  the  early  Fall 
When  Lee  marched  over  the  mountain-wall,- 
Over  the  mountains  winding  down, 
Horse  and  foot,  into  Frederick-town, 

Forty  flags  with  their  silver  stars, 
Forty  flags  with  their  crimson  bars, 

Flapped  in  the  morning  wind  :  the  sun 
Of  noon  looked  down,  and  saw  not  one. 

Up  rose  old  Barbara  Fritchie  then, 

Bowed  with  her  four-score  years  and  ten  ;     . 


:4;t  WHITTiER'S  HEROINE, 

Bravest  of  all  in  Frederick-town, 

She  took  up  the  flag  the  men  hauled  down  ; 

In  her  attic-window  the  staff  she  set, 
To  show  that  one  heart  was  loyal  jet. 

Up  the  street  came  the  rebel  tread, 
Stonewall  Jackson  riding  ahead. 

Under  his  slouched  hat  left  and  right 
He  glanced ;  the  old  flag  met  his  sight. 

"Halt !" — the  dust-brown  ranks  stood  fast, 
"Fire  !"— out  blazed  the  rifle-blast. 

It  shivered  the  window,  pane  and  sash  ; 
It  rent  the  banner  with  seam  and  gash. 

Quick,  as  it  fell,  from  the  broken  staff 
Dame  Barbara  snatched  the  silken  scarf ; 

She  leaned  far  out  on  the  window  sill, 
And  shook  it  forth  with  a  royal  will. 

"Shoot,  if  you  must,  this  old  gray  head, 
But  spare  your  country's  flag,"  she  said. 

A  shade  of  sadness,  a  blush  of  shame, 
Over  the  face  of  the  leader  came  ; 

The  nobler  nature  within  him  stirred 
To  life  at  that  woman's  deed  and  word ; 

"Who  touches  a  hair  of  yon  gray  head 
Dies  like  a  dog  !  March  on  !"  he  said. 

All  day  long  through  Frederick  street 
Sounded  the  tread  of  marching  feet ; 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE. 

All  day  long  that  free  flag  tost 
Over  the  heads  of  the  rebel  host. 

Ever  its  torn  folds  rose  and  fell 

On  the  loyal  winds  that  loved  it  well ; 

And  through  the  hill-gap's  sunset  light 
Shone  over  it  a  warm  good-night. 

Barbara  Fritchie's  work  is  o'er, 

And  the  rebel  rides  on  his  raids  no  more, 

Honor  to  her  !  and  let  a  tear 

Fall,  for  her  sake,  on  Stonewall's  bier. 

Over  Barbara  Fritchie's  grave 
Flag  of  Freedom  and  Union  wave  ! 

Peace  and  order  and  beauty  draw 
Round  thy  symbol  of  light  and  law ; 

And  ever  the  stars  above  look  down 
On  thy  stars  below  in  Frederick-town ! 


PREFACE. 


VJLS  much  that  is  utterly  false  has  been 
^J  \^,published  concerning  my  friend  and 
neighbor,  Mrs,  Barbara  Fritchie,  since 
the  appearance  of  the  wonderful  poem  entitled 
"Barbara  Fritchie,"  by  that  great  and  justly 
distinguished  poet  John  G.  Whittier,  I  deem  it 
a  duty,  as  one  who  loved  her,  for  the  many 
excellent  traits  of  character  that  she  possessed 
as  well  as  having  been  for  many  years  her 
friend  and  well  acquainted  with  her  for  a  long 
time,  to  tell  the  public  what  I  know  of  this 
worthy  lady.  The  object  I  have  in  view  is 
not  to  produce  anything  sensational,  or  to 
distort,  but  to  be  careful,  on  the  contrary,  to 
make  no  statement  that  does  not  rest  on  a 
sure  foundation,  and  I  wish  it  understood  that 
I  shall  give  the  exact  truth  in  what  I  state  in 
the  following  pages. 

The  German  spelling  of  Fritchie  would 
be  "Freitchie,"  but  we  give  the  English  as  it 
was  spelled  on  his  small  sign  at  the  window 
where  he  was  conducting  business,  "Fritchie." 


LIFE  OF 

WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

"BARBARA  FRITCHIE." 


RS.  SOUTHWORTH,  the  distinguished 
J  Vy^, authoress,  who  was  in  Washington  at 
the  time,  was  the  person  who  wrote 
to  the  poet  concerning  this  estimable  lady  and 
enclosed  a  newspaper  slip  relating  to  Barbara 
Fritchie's  action,  when  Gen.  Lee's  army  en 
tered  Frederick,  and  this  led  to  the  preparation 
by  the  poet  of  that  wonderful  poem. 

Miss  Barbara  Hauer  was  born  in  the 
flourishing  city  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania, 
December  3rd,  1766,  and  was  baptized  by  the 
Rev.  William  Hendel,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  December  i4th,  1766.  Her  parents 


8  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

names  are  recorded  in  the  records  of  the  First 
Reformed  Church  of  Lancaster  City,  as  Nico 
las  and  Catharine  Hauer.  The  names  of  their 
five  children  were  Daniel,  George,  Barbara, 
Margaret  and  Catherine.  After  marriage  they 
were  Mrs.  John  C.  Fritchie,  Mrs.  Stover  and 
Mrs.  Peter  Mantz.  Her  husband  had  received 
the  military  title  of  major  and  was  well  known 
as  Major  Peter  Mantz. 

Attention  is  called  at  this  point  for  a  few 
moments  to  Mr.  John  C.  Fritchie,  the  much 
esteemed  husband  of  our  heroine.  He  was  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Frederick.  His 
humble  and  unobtrusive  manner  won  for  him 
the  regard  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  such  is 
ever  the  case.  True  merit  is  retiring  and  un 
assuming. 

He  conducted  a  glove  manufactory  in  the 
east  front  room  of  his  dwelling,  and  also  pre 
pared  the  material  in  his  shop  fronting  on 
Carroll  Creek. 

His  assistant  in  the  glove  department 
was  Mr.  Henry  Hanshew,  who  had  married 
Mrs.  Fritchie's  niece,  an  honorable  man, 
against  whom  nothing  of  evil  could  be  justly 
spoken. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  9 

Mr.  Fritchie  was  successful  in  business. 
While  he  did  not  acquire  great  wealth,  he 
accumulated  sufficient  to  live  comfortably  dur 
ing  life,  and  at  his  death  leave  to  his  beloved 
wife  the  dwelling  in  which  they  had  so  long 
resided  and  means  otherwise  invested.  His 
death  occurred  November  loth,  1849.  Gone 
but  not  forgotten,  for  beautiful  myrtle  yet 
covers  his  grave. 

Miss  Barbara  Hauer  was  born  in  exciting 
times,  when  the  Colonies  of  America  were 
still  subject  to  England  and  stirring  events 
were  constantly  transpiring. 

Just  previous  to  her  birth  the  odious 
"stamp  act,"  ordering  that  all  papers  on  which 
instruments  of  writing  were  prepared  should 
be  taxed,  at  exorbitant  rates,  had  been  repealed 
and  shortly  after,  May  1767,  a  second  plan  for 
taxing  the  colonists  was  adopted,  while  yet 
they  were  without  representation  in  Parlia 
ment.  This  led  to  the  preparation  of  that 
matchless  paper  "The  Declaration  of  Indepen 
dence,"  where  each  pledged  his  life,  his  honor 
and  his  fortune,  in  furtherance  of  this  glorious 
cause. 

The    Declaration    of    Independence    and 


10  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

asserting  our  freedom  from  British  rule,  was 
adopted  some  ten  years  after  the  birth  of  Miss 
Barbara  Hauer.  She  was  therefore  one  of  those 
people  of  hardy  origin,  who  dared  to  do  or  die, 
She  no  doubt  soon  learned  of  the  action  taken 
by  the  citizens  of  Frederick-town,  Maryland, 
in  opposition  to  British  oppression. 

As  early  as  1765  in  the  old  court  house 
in  Frederick  was  the  obnoxious  "stamp  act" 
pronounced  inoperative.  And  as  early  in  the 
struggle  for  our  right  as  1775,  when  the  battles 
of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill  aroused  the 
colonies  to  the  succor  of  Massachusetts,  two 
companies  marched  from  Frederick-town  for 
camp  at  Boston. 

Our  heroine  was  well  informed  in  regard 
to,  and  quite  conversant,  with  many  events 
that  transpired  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  knew  full  well  at  how  great  a  sacrifice  our 
national  liberty  had  been  obtained.  Wonder 
not  then  that  she  stood  firm  as  a  rock  in  de 
fence  of  her  beloved  country's  best  interests, 
now  asserting  its  just  rights. 

By  a  long  life  of  honesty  and  industry, 
Mrs.  Fritchie  enjoyed  an  honorable  and  envi 
able  position  in  society.  Therefore  if  defamer 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  11 

or  wicked  persons  speak  aught  against  Her  it 
will  only  cause  her  character  to  shine  forth 
with  more  resplendent  lustre. 

Patrick  street  in  Frederick  City  is  one  of 
the  principal  streets  and  extends  East  and 
West.  The  City  Hotel  on  this  street  has 
within  the  last  few  years  been  greatly  enlarged 
and  improved,  and  ranks  now  as  a  first-class 
hotel ;  during  the  war  it  was  used  as  a  hospital, 
many  who  were  wounded  at  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam,  after  being  temporarily  lodged  at 
Boonsboro,  were  brought  in  ambulances  to  this 
hotel.  One  who  held  the  lantern  when  they 
arrived,  (for  it  was  night,)  said  that  he  was 
obliged  to  call  some  one  to  take  his  place,  for 
he  was  about  fainting.  He  said  when  he  saw 
them  lift  one  out  without  an  arm,  and  another 
with  his  foot  cut  off,  or  the  entire  limb  removed, 
and  noticed  their  features  all  distorted  with 
pain,  and  yet  not  a  murmur  escaping  their 
lips,  it  was  more  than  he  could  bear. 

Within  the  last  few  years  the  Electric 
Railroad  has  been  built,  passing  through  the 
entire  street,  with  cars  running  from  Frederick 
to  Myersville,  fourteen  miles  distant,  almost 
every  hour  of  the  day.  Taking  the  cars  on 


12  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

East  Patrick  street  you  can  visit  the  Agricul 
tural  Park  where  the  German  Baptists  held 
their  recent  annual  meeting  attended  by  large 
numbers,  and  taking  the  cars  on  West  Patrick 
street  you  can  visit  Braddock  Heights,  quite 
a  popular  summer  resort,  about  four  miles 
west  of  Frederick. 

Mrs.  Fritchie's  residence  was  on  West 
Patrick  street.  It  was  built  of  brick  and  very 
substantial.  It  was  not  large,  but  neat;  one 
story  and  a  half  in  height,  with  two  front 
doors,  and  three  windows  in  front,  beside  two 
dormer  windows  on  the  roof.  It  was  painted 
red  and  penciled  in  white,  and  the  shutters 
were  never  painted  other  than  pure  white. 
Her  home  will  easily  be  recognized  on  the 
illustrated  page,  which  shows  also  Carroll 
Creek  and  the  adjoining  buildings.  The  dor 
mer  window  was  at  that  time  quite  in  style, 
now  they  are  scarcely  seen.  Houses  that  were 
considered  neat  and  beautiful  years  ago,  are 
now  thought  to  be  quite  ordinary. 

At  one  of  those  dormer  windows,  I  have 
frequently  noticed  her  standing  with  her  coun 
try's  flag  floating  gracefully  and  beautifully 
from  the  same  window. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  13 

In  the  early  days  of  the  rebellion,  when 
one  disaster  after  another  had  befallen  the 
Union  army,  and  other  patriotic  hearts  were 
almost  overwhelmed  with  grief  and  beginning 
to  despond ;  when  matters  looked  so  dark,  so 
portentous,  she  stood  entirely  unmoved,  dis 
playing  the  greatest  composure  imaginable. 
Her  loyalty  to  the  country  of  her  birth  was  of 
the  most  pronounced  character.  She  never 
suffered  that  country  to  be  spoken  of  in  her 
presence  in  a  disparaging  way,  without  at 
once,  and  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  resent 
ing  it.  Yes,  those  small  bright  eyes  would 
flash  with  excitement  and  indignation  and  her 
usual  calmness,  change  to  that  of  resoluteness 
and  strong  determination,  until  the  offensive 
remark  was  recalled,  which  was  invariably 
done,  for  all  knew  that  she  meant  what  she 
said  in  her  inmost  soul.  She  realized  that  in 
"Union  there  is  Strength,"  and  believed  it 
with  her  whole  heart. 

I  shall  never  forget  her  appearance  as  she 
came  into  my  store  during  the  earlier  part  of 
the  war,  leaning  on  her  staff  and  saying  with 
the  greatest  earnestness,  "Do  not  fora  moment 
despair,  stand  firm." 


14  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

Often  when  she  entered  the  store,  she 
would  ask,  "How  do  matters  look  now  for  the 
Union  side?"  Sometimes  I  had  just  heard 
good  news  of  a  cheering  character,  and  when 
I  would  communicate  it  to  her,  joy  was  mani 
fested  in  the  most  fervent  manner.  Her  whole 
frame  kindled  with  emotion  and  her  bright 
eyes  sparkled  with  delight.  At  other  times 
news  of  a  saddening  character  had  been  re 
ceived,  and  when  I  made  it  known  to  her  I  felt 
greatly  depressed.  She  would  notice  it  at 
once  and  remark,  UO,  do  not  be  cast  down,  it 
will  all  come  right,  I  know  it  will,  the  Union 
must  be  preserved, 5>  and  remark  with  the 
greatest  emphasis,  "Be  assured  that  God  takes 
care  of  his  people,  and  he  will  take  care  of 
this  country.  I  feel  perfectly  satisfied  that  the 
Union  of  the  States  will  be  maintained.  I  am 
sure  that  it  is  God's  will  that  the  Union  shall 
continue  and  you  know  that  nothing  can  stand 
against  that."  Thus  it  was  that  encourage 
ment  was  given  by  this  patriotic  lady  when 
many  strong  men  became  lukewarm  and  indif 
ferent,  and  even  when  the  Flag  of  the  land 
that  gave  them  birth  was  ruthlessly  assailed. 
Although  more  than  thirty  years  have  elapsed 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  15 

since  that  time,  yet  that  aged  form,  that  feeble 
step,  I  never  can,  never  shall  forget.  She 
was  one  of  those  persons  who  impress  you 
favorably  at  the  first  interview,  and  that  im 
pression  strengthens  as  time  rolls  on.  I  loved 
her,  though  aged  and  weak,  and  treasure  up 
as  precious  the  words  I  heard  her  speak.  If 
her  Country  did  wrong  she  would  not  forsake, 
but  endeavor  to  place  her  in  the  right.  True 
she  had  lived  more  than  ninety  years  of  pleas 
ure,  pain,  toil  and  tears,  but  it  only  made  her 
attachment  take  deeper  root  for  the  cause  of 
her  Country,  the  cause  of  truth.  Yes,  she 
loved  this  blessed  land  of  lands,  upon  which 
Heaven  has  showered  its  richest  blessings. 
She  had  great  will  power,  and  such  persons 
accomplish  most  in  this  world,  although  in  the 
political  arena  women  can  do  but  little,  not 
having  the  right  to  express  sentiments  through 
the  ballot  box;  yet  by  well  directed  efforts  and 
influence  in  certain  directions  she  has  already 
accomplished  much.  Look,  for  instance,  at 
what  has  been  done  by  the  Woman's  Chris 
tian  Temperance  Union  for  the  cause  of  hu 
manity  ! 

Mrs.  Fritchie  was  not  robust,  but  decision 


16  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

of  character  was  seen  throughout,  and  judging 
from  her  eyes  and  mouth  she  surely  was  not 
one  to  be  trifled  with.  If  she  said,  No  !  it  was 
quite  plain  that  she  was  settled  in  the  opinion 
formed,  and  to  change  it  was  no  easy  task,  for 
when  formed  aright  it  was  formed  to  last.  In 
conversation  she  was  quite  refined,  her  langu 
age  was  always  chaste,  entirely  pure;  thus  set 
ting  an  example  which  was  no  doubt  the  means 
of  leading  many  in  the  right  direction.  Per 
sons  calling  on  her  were  sure  to  meet  with  a 
kind,  cordial  welcome.  Carroll  Creek,  a  small 
stream,  flowed  past  the  gable-end  of  her  back 
building  on  its  way  to  the  Monocacy.  At  one 
of  the  windows  that  looked  out  upon  the  creek 
I  have  frequently,  on  my  way  to  the  Spring, 
now  known  as  "City  Spring,"  noticed  her  sit 
ting,  either  sewing,  knitting,  or  reading  some 
favorite  book,  always  busily  engaged  in  doing 
something.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  there 
fore,  that  she  understood  household  duties,  or 
that  she  could  converse  intelligently  upon  al 
most  any  subject.  As  a  wife  she  was  thorough 
ly  domestic  and  by  her  genial  disposition  and 
well  stored  mind  made  home  what  it  ever 
should  be — a  happy,  lovable  and  attractive 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  17 

place.  To  so  great  an  extent  was  this  the  case 
that  her  beloved  husband  was  seldom  absent 
from  it  when  the  evening  shades  gathered 
around.  Thus  happy,  thus  joyous,  eould  every 
home  be  made. 

She  was  the  senior  of  her  husband  by  a 
number  of  years.  I  have  frequently  heard  my 
mother  remark  that  a  company  of  young  ladies 
were  present  at  a  quilting  party,  when  it  was 
announced  that  a  son  had  been  born  to  Mrs. 
Fritchie.  Among  the  young  ladies  attending 
the  party  was  the  beautiful  and  accomplished 
Miss  Barbara  Hauer,  who  in  the  course  of 
time  became  the  beloved  and  devoted  wife  of 
Mr.  John  C.  Fritchie  whose  birth  it  was  that 
was  announced  that  night.  I  do  not  suppose 
that  our  heroine  ever  weighed  over  no  or  115 
pounds.  She  was  slight  in  figure  and  scarcely 
of  medium  height,  her  eyes  were  small  but 
penetrating  and  keen,  her  hair  was  dark  in 
early  life,  but  at  last  the  silver  threads  began 
to  take  the  place  of  the  dark  brown.  At  length, 
having  lost  much  of  her  hair;  she  was  induced 
to  purchase  a  braid,  which  gave  her  the  ap 
pearance  of  one  much  younger  than  she  really 
was.  In  her  dress  she  was  remarkable  for 


18  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

plainness,  the  variations  were  few  indeed. 
About  the  house  her  costume  was  usually  that 
of  plain  Quaker  colored  calico,  and  when  she 
went  to  the  store,  or  when  she  visited  neigh 
bors  or  attended  church,  you  could  rest  assured 
that  she  would  be  clad  in  a  black  cashmere  or 
alpaca  dress,  though  she  had  a  handsome 
plum  colored  silk  and  other  costly  dresses, 
which  she  could  have  worn.  She  was  a  poor 
visitor,  seldom  going  among  her  neighbors, 
and,  all  things  considered,  perhaps  too  much 
visiting  is  not  to  be  commended.  She  possess 
ed  much  beautiful  chinaware.  A  relative  of 
her's  residing  in  our  city  has  at  the  present 
time  cups  and  saucers,  teapot  and  other  china- 
ware,  which  formerly  belonged  to  Mrs.  Fritchie, 
also  gold  ear  rings  and  an  excellent  likeness 
of  her  aged  relative.  Out  of  the  tea  pot  Gen. 
George  Washington  drank  tea  the  night  he 
spent  in  Frederick,  in  the  year  1791.  The 
way  it  happened  was  as  follows:  The  young 
ladies  of  the  town  had  a  quilting  party  at  Mrs. 
KimbalPs  Hotel,  where  the  City  Hotel  is  now 
located.  They  entertained  Gen.  Washington, 
and  Miss  Barbara  Hauer  loaned  her  chinaware 
to  grace  the  table.  When  Gen.  Washington 


CHINAWARE  AND  RELICS 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  19 

died  these  same  young  ladies  held  a  sham 
funeral  and  our  heroine  acted  as  one  of  the  pall 
bearers.  She  was  not  accustomed  to  speak  in 
a  boasting  way  of  any  act  that  she  performed, 
for  she  considered  that  when  in  the  discharge 
of  duty  she  was  only  doing  that  which  she  be 
lieved  to  be  right.  Therefore  she  did  not  un 
derstand  why  a  person  should  be  so  highly 
complimented  for  doing  what  God's  word 
taught  her  was  the  right,  and  which  if  she 
deviated  from  would  be  taking  a  step  in  the 
wrong  direction.  The  poor  and  distressed  ever 
had  a  sympathizing  friend  in  her,  and  though 
not  able  to  do  or  give  as  much  as  some  others, 
she  did  all  she  could.  This  is  all  that  is  re 
quired,  for  you  know  it  is  said  in  God's  blessed 
word,  that  if  we  only  give  a  cup  of  cold  water 
with  the  proper  spirit  to  one  in  need  it  is  pleas 
ing  in  the  sight  of  our  Heavenly  Father. 

She  was  benevolent,  in  the  highest  sense 
of  the  term,  not  making  excuses,  as  some  do, 
and  turning  worthy  and  unworthy  persons 
indiscriminately  from  her  door.  I  feel  assured 
that  plain,  unostentatious  benevolence  is  such 
as  is  acceptable  in  Jehovah's  sight.  She  never 
courted  the  society  of  the  great  and  noble  of  the 


20  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

earth,  if  pride  and  wealth  alone  made  them  such 
in  the  sight  of  those  with  whom  they  associated. 
She  was  fond  of  cultivating  flowers.  Between 
the  front  house  and  the  back  building  at  her 
residence  there  was  a  small  triangular  parcel 
of  ground.  This  she  had  planted  with  beau 
tiful  flowers  and  very  often  you  might  find 
her  at  work  in  this  little  flower  garden.  I  re 
member  as  clearly  as  though  it  were  but  yes 
terday  of  frequently  standing  on  the  bridge 
adjoining  and  viewing  the  lovely  roses,  dahl 
ias,  chrysanthemums,  as  well  as  other  flowers 
blooming  in  this  little  bed.  I  cannot  forget 
that  they  appeared  to  me  to  be  unusually 
pretty,  accounted  for  I  suppose  from  the  fact 
that  being  near  the  creek  the  ground  was  con 
stantly  moist.  The  pink  rose  trained  against 
the  wall  was  always  nicely  trimmed,  and  dur 
ing  Summer  and  Autumn  was  rarely  other 
than  in  full  bloom.  Our  heroine  was  of  a 
cheerful  disposition.  Persons  not  acquainted 
with  her  would  not  have  supposed  that  such 
was  the  case,  for  many  persons  when  advanced 
in  years,  if  the  least  feeble  or  infirm,  become 
cross  and  disagreeable.  It  was  not  so  with 
her.  She  enjoyed  anything  of  an  amusing 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  21 

nature  very  much  indeed  and  would  partici 
pate  in  the  conversation  of  young  people  with 
much  pleasure.  She  never  feared  to  do  or  say 
when  she  felt  that  God  directed  her  steps. 
Leaning  on  the  uRock  of  Ages"  she  needed 
no  other  support.  For  a  sure  stronghold  is 
our  God  to  all  who  put  their  trust  in  him. 

Mrs.  Fritchie  had  never  been  blessed  with 
children.  Miss  Yoner,  a  relative,  lived  with 
her  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  a  great 
comfort,  especially  when  she  became  some 
what  enfeebled  by  age.  In  speaking  of  the 
brave  volunteer  going  forth  in  defence  of  his 
home  and  the  land  of  his  birth,  our  heroine 
said  to  me,  that  if  she  had  been  blest  with 
children  she  would  cheerfully  have  given  her 
sons  to  the  service  of  this  great  country.  Yes, 
dearly  as  she  would  have  loved  them,  she 
would  have  thought  no  sacrifice  too  great. 

The  volunteer,  or  private  soldier,  is  the 
pride  and  strong  defence  of  this  country,  for 
here  we  keep  no  large  standing  armies  sup 
ported  by  the  Government  to  protect  us.  Pre 
vious  to  her  death,  after  many  battles  had  been 
fought  and  won  on  the  side  of  the  Union,  she 
said  to  me  one  day,  "You  know  how  often  I 


22  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

assured  you  that  thus  it  would  be,  and  now 
see  how  my  words  are  being  verified." 

The  Confederate  soldiers,  in  the  most  des 
titute  and  forlorn  condition,  were  those  accom 
panying  the  command  of  General  Jackson 
when  his  celebrated  raid  was  made  into  Mary 
land  and  Frederick  City.  They  were  shoeless, 
hatless;and,  in  fact,  destitute  and  in  want  of 
almost  everything;  begging  for  something  to 
eat,  for  even  if  they  had  Confederate  money 
they  could  not  in  most  instances  pass  it.  I 
shall  never  forget  their  appearance.  I  was 
engaged  in  connection  with  another  gentleman 
in  the  dry  goods  trade  in  Frederick  City,  and 
of  course  we  had  to  bear  considerable  loss. 
Having  a  large  country  trade,  we  kept  besides 
the  regular  goods,  boots,  shoes,  hats  and  caps. 
I  do  not  think  that  I  shall  ever  forget  how  I 
felt  when  three  Confederate  soldiers  came  into 
the  store  and  asked  me, — when  I  was  alone — 
to  show  them  some  shoes  and  then  asked  the 
price.  They  were  the  first  Southern  soldiers 
I  had  met  or  seen.  I  handed  the  shoes  down 
from  the  shelves.  Two  pair  were  each  priced 
$1.50,  the  other  pair  $1.75.  They  said,  "We 
will  take  the  three  pair.  I  wrapped  them  up, 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  23 

when  one  of  the  soldiers  handed  me  a  $20.00 
Confederate  note  and  waited  for  the   change. 
You  can  easily  imagine  the  dilemma  I  was  in. 
I  wonld  not  give  him  change  in  United  States 
money,  and  therefore  gave  him  the  note  back, 
which  amused   them  all   very   much.     They 
picked  up  the  package  of  shoes  and  went   out 
and  away.     I  looked  around  and  saw  that  the 
store  was  getting   crowded   with   soldiers,   in 
front,  back  of  the  counter  and  everywhere.  Of 
course  one  or  two  of  us  could  do  nothing.     If 
we  could  have  waited  on  them  they  would  have 
been  willing  to  pay  with  such  money  as  they 
had,    and  some   of  them  did   hand   a  ten  or 
twenty  dollar  Confederate  note  and  took  shoes, 
boots  and  hats  to  the   full  amount.     The  ma 
jority,  however,  would  throw   the   boots   and 
shoes  across  their  arms  and  move  off  without 
saying  a  word;  even  my  own   hat   and  boots 
kept  for  occasional  wear  were   taken.     When 
the  Confederate  army,  led   by  Generals  Lee, 
Jackson  and  others,  entered  Frederick  City,  on 
Saturday  morning,  September,  6,   1862,  it  is 
said   that^ts~~they  'came   marching'  u~p  ~East 
Patrick  street  Gen.  Jackson  was  in  command, 
at  least  for  some  time.     It  is  certain  that  their 


24  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

appearance  did  not  occasion  the  uprising  of  the 
people  that  the  Confederate  General  had  been 
led  to  expect  from  a  people  who  were  thought 
to  be  down-trodden  and  oppressed.  Many  of 
those,  even,  who  were  thought  to  be  in  sympa 
thy  with  them  did  not  open  their  doors  to 
welcome  them.  On  Monday,  September  8th, 
Gen.  Lee  issued  his  proclamation  to  the  peo 
ple  of  Maryland  calling  on  them  to  throw  off 
the  restraint  of  the  Union  Government  and 
join  the  South.  A  general  uprising  of  the 
people  was  no  doubt  expected  to  result  from 
the  invitation,  which,  however,  did  not  receive 
the  slightest  response.  The  following  is  the 
proclamation : 

HKADQUARTERS  ARMY  N.  VA.,  1 
Near  Frederick  Town,  Sept.  8,  1862.  j 

To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  MARYLAND  : 

It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  pur 
pose  that  has  brought  the  army  under  my 
command  within  the  limits  of  your  State,  so 
far  as  that  purpose  concerns  yourselves. 

The  people  of  the  Confederate  States  have 
long  watched  with  the  deepest  sympathy  the 
wrongs  and  outrages  that  have  been  inflicted 
upon  the  citizens  of  a  Commwealth  allied  to 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  25 

the  States  of  the  South  by  the  strongest  social, 
political  and  commercial  ties. 

They  have  seen  with  profound  indigna 
tion  their  sister  State  deprived  of  every  right 
and  reduced  to  the  condition  of  a  conquered 
province. 

Under  the  pretense  of  supporting  the 
Constitution,  but  in  violation  of  its  most  valu 
able  provisions,  your  citizens  have  been  arrest 
ed  and  imprisoned  upon  no  charge  and  con 
trary  to  all  forms  of  law;  the  faithful  and 
manly  protest  against  this  outrage,  made  by 
the  venerable  and  illustrious  Marylander  to 
whom  in  better  days  no  citizen  appealed  for 
right  in  vain, was  treated  with  scorn  and  con 
tempt,  The  government  of  your  city  has 
been  usurped  by  armed  strangers;  your  Legis 
lature  been  dissolved  by  the  unlawful  arrest 
of  its  members;  freedom  of  the  press  and 
speech  have  been  suppressed;  words  have  been 
declared  offences  by  an  arbitrary  decree  of  the 
Federal  executive  and  citizens  ordered  to  be 
tried  by  a  military  commission  for  what  they 
may  dare  to  speak.  Believing  that  the  people 
of  Maryland  possessed  a  spirit  too  lofty  to  sub 
mit  to  such  a  government,  the  people  of  the 
South  have  long  wished  to  aid  you  in  throwing 
off  this  foreign  yoke,  to  enable  you  to  again  en 
joy  the  inalienable  rights  of  freemen  and  restore 
independency  and  sovereignty  to  your  State. 


26  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

In  obedience  to  this  wish  our  army  has 
come  among  you  and  is  prepared  to  assist  you 
with  the  power  of  its  arms  in  regaining  the 
rights  of  which  you  have  been  despoiled. 

This,  citizens  of  Maryland,  is  our  mission, 
so  far  as  yourselves  are  concerned.  No  re 
straint  upon  your  free  will  is  intended;  no  in 
timidation  will  be  allowed  within  the  limits  of 
this  army;  at  least  Marylanders  shall  once 
more  enjoy  their  ancient  freedom  of  thought 
and  speech. 

We  know  of  no  enemies  among  you,  and 
will  protect  all  of  every  opinion.  It  is  for  you 
to  decide  your  destiny,  freely  and  without  re 
straint. 

This  army  will  respect  your  choice  what 
ever  it  may  be,  and  while  the  Southern  people 
will  rejoice  to  welcome  you  to  your  natural 
position  among  them,  they  will  only  welcome 
you  when  you  come  of  your  own  free  will. 

R.  E.  LEE,  Commanding. 

To  General  Lee's  great  surprise  his  proc 
lamation  created  no  enthusiasm  whatever,  but 
fell  entirely  harmless,  gaining  nothing  in  the 
way  of  aid  or  comfort,  but  on  the  contrary  in 
tensifying  the  feeling  of  loyalty  and  devotion 
to  the  Union.  In  the  language  of  Col.  J. 
Thomas  Scharf  in  his  history  of  Western 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  27 

Maryland,  uThe  reception  of  the  Confederate 
troops,  by  the  inhabitants  of  Frederick,  was 
decidedly  cool.  Not  the  slightest  manifesta 
tion  of  joy  and  enthusiasm  was  exhibited. 
With  all  places  of  business  closed  and  the 
streets  deserted  by  the  people,  the  old  town 
wore  a  gloomy  appearance  in  striking  contrast 
to  the  resplendency  displayed,  upon  the  entry 
of  the  Union  army  one  week  later." 

On  Wednesday  morning,  Sept.  loth,  1862, 
the  Confederate  army  began  to  move  out  of 
Frederick  city. 

General  Jackson's  corps  was  in  the  ad 
vance.  As  they  passed  out  West  Patrick  street, 
I  stood  at  the  front  window  of  my  dwelling, 
looking  at  regiment  after  regiment,  clad  in 
grey  or  brown  uniforms,  as  they  marched  past 
for  several  hours.  So  intent  was  I  in  noticing 
and  reflecting  on  this  lamentable  action  on  the 
part  of  the  people  against  the  best  government 
on  earth  that  I  lost  sight  of  what  was  going  on 
at  Mrs.  Fritchie's  although  her  residence  was 
not  a  square  distant  from  my  own.  Two 
highly  respected  citizens,  both  now  dead, 
stated  that  they  saw  her  standing  at  the  win 
dow  and  waving  her  flag  that  morning.  This 


28  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

I  do  believe,  that  if  the  opportunity  was  pre 
sented  she  did  not  fail  to  improve  it,  for  I  do 
not  think  that  she  would  have  taken  a  back 
ward  step  though  confronted  by  their  entire 
array.  In  the  language  of  Mrs.  Abbott,  "Aunt 
Fritchie  was  fearless  and  very  patriotic."  A 
single  incident  will  show  the  spirit  animating 
her.  On  one  occasion  a  number  of  Confeder 
ate  soldiers  halted  and  sat  down  on  the  porch 
in  front  of  her  dwelling,  and  were  drinking 
water  brought  from  the  spring  near  by.  To 
this  she  had  not  the  least  objection,  but  before 
leaving  they  began  to  speak  in  a  derogatory 
manner  of  her  beloved  country.  In  a  moment 
she  arose  and  passing  to  the  front  door  she 
bade  them  clear  themselves  and  applied  the 
ucane,"  with  which  she  used  to  walk,  in  the 
most  vigorous  manner,  clearing  the  porch  in 
a  few  moments  of  every  man  upon  it.  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  from  inquiry  that  General 
Jackson  on  the  day  the  Confederates  passed 
through  Frederick,  did  not  pass  by  the  dwell 
ing  of  Mrs.  Fritchie.  It  appears  that  he  left 
his  soldiers,  at  the  East  end  of  the  city,  to  call 
on  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  B.  Ross,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  the  wife  of  whom  was  the 


PRESBYTERIAN  PARSONAGE 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  29 

daughter  of  Ex-Gov.  McDowell,  of  Virginia, 
with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted.  It  being 
early  in  the  morning  it  is  declared  that  he 
wrote  the  following  note,  and  slipped  it  under 
the  front  door  at  Dr.  Ross's  dwelling  : 

REV.  JOHN  B.  ROSS:— 

Regret  not  being  able  to  see  you  and  Mrs. 
Ross,  but  could  not  expect  to  have  that  pleas 
ure  at  so  unseasonable  an  hour. 

T.  P.  JACKSON. 

Dr.  Ross  resided  on  West  Second  street, 
and  it  is  stated  that  Gen.  Jackson  on  leaving 
Dr.  Ross's  residence  rode  on  to  what  is  known 
as  Bentz  street  and  rejoined  his  soldiers  by 
coming  up  a  portion  of  Bentz  street,  commonly 
called  "Mill  Alley,"  which  leads  out  into  Pat 
rick  street  a  short  distance  beyond  or  on  the 
West  side  of  Mrs.  Fritchie's  residence.  I  meas 
ured  the  distance  from  uMill  Alley"  to  her 
dwelling  and  found  it  45  yards.  Grant  that 
it  was  not  Gen.  Jackson,  might  it  not  have 
been  some  other  officer  in  command  ?  If  so,  it 
would  not  change  the  principle  involved.  I 
have,  however,  no  personal  knowledge  of  its 
occurrence.  This  I  do  know,  called  for  a 


30  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

moment  to  my  front  door  that  morning  to  see 
a  friend,  I  happened  to  look  up  the  street,  and 
saw  a  very  intelligent  lady,  a  neighbor,  stand 
ing  on  her  front  porch,  with  a  small  United 
States  flag  in  her  hand  waving  it  and  making 
apparently  the  most  earnest  remarks  to  a  Con 
federate  officer  who  had  ridden  his  horse  over 
on  the  pavement  up  to  the  porch  where  she 
was  standing.  I  was  afterward  assured  by 
those  who  had  the  pleasure  of  being  present 
that  such  glowing  words  of  patriotism  fell  from 
the  lips  of  Mrs.  Quantrell  that  the  officer 
looked  on  and  listened  with  wonder  and  sur 
prise,  and  whilst  he  was  present  would  not  al 
low  his  men  to  do  her  the  least  harm.  After 
his  departure,  however,  some  of  the  soldiers 
belonging  to  the  army  came  and  knocked  the 
flag  from  her  hand,  breaking  the  Staff  into 
several  pieces. 

In  order  to  corroborate  what  I  had  written 
I  addressed  the  following  note  to  Mr.  Fleming, 
and  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  joined  in  at 
testing  to  its  correctness  : 

MR.  WILLIAM  W.  FLEMING  :- 

Esteemed  friend,  will  you  please  give  me 
the  information  that  I  desire  if  it  is  in  your 


!         i 


MRS.  GUANTRELL'S  HOUSE 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  31 

power  to  do  so.  When  some  years  since  the 
Confederate  army  passed  through  Frederick 
city,  it  is  said  that  your  neighbor  at  that  time, 
Mrs.  Mary  Quantrell,  stood  on  the  porch  in 
front  of  her  house  and  waved  a  small  United 
States  flag,  and  that  a  Confederate  officer  rode 
up  to  the  porch  and  remonstrated  with  her  for 
doing  so,  and  urged  her  to  desist,  whereupon 
she  spoke  to  him  in  such  glowing  words  of 
patriotism  that  he  was  quite  astonished,  listen 
ing  to  her  most  respectfully,  and  whilst  he  was 
present  would  not  allow  her  to  be  disturbed; 
that  after  his  departure  soldiers  belonging  to 
the  army  came  up  and  knocked  the  flag  out  of 
her  hand  several  times,  breaking  the  flag  staff. 
Is  the  foregoing  correct  ?  By  answering  the 
questions  propounded  you  will  greatly  oblige 

Your  friend, 

H.  M.  NIXDORFF. 

We,  the  undersigned,  find   the   foregoing 
statement  to  be  correct. 

Mrs.  Matilda  Fleming, 
Mrs.  Hallie  M.  McDonald, 
Mrs.  Kate  H.  Cashour, 
Nicholas  H.  Fleming, 
Wm.  W.  Fleming. 


32  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

If  this  occured  at  Mrs.  Mary  Quantrell's 
we  should  not  be  astonished  at  anything  said 
to  have  taken  place  at  another  point. 

On  the  1 2th  of  September  Gen.  McClel- 
lan's  army  entered  Frederick  city.  The  ad 
vance  was  under  command  of  Gen.  Burnside. 
As  they  moved  up  West  Patrick  street  on  the 
National  pike  leading  westward,  they  passed 
Mrs.  Fritchie's  residence.  She  was  standing 
at  one  of  the  front  windows  of  her  dwelling, 
leaning  on  her  cane.  Beside  her  stood  her 
relative,  Miss  Julia  Hanshew,  now  Mrs.  John 
H.  Abbott;  and  Miss  Yoner.  As  she  stood 
by  the  window  she  waved  her  hand  time  and 
again  to  express  her  joy.  Miss  Yoner,  no 
doubt  at  Mrs.  Fritchie's  request,  went  into  the 
adjoining  room  and  brought  forth  Mrs. 
Fritchie's  flag.  The  old  lady  grasped  it  and 
stood  at  the  window  waving  it.  As  she  waved 
her  flag  the  soldiers  were  perfectly  delighted, 
some  of  them  loudly  cheering  her,  ethers  ran  to 
the  window  and  as  soon  as  they  could  get  near 
enough  grasped  her  by  the  hand  and  said  "God 
bless  you,  old  lady,  may  you  live  long,  you 
dear  old  soul."  And  then  cheer  after  cheer 
was  given  as  our  noble  soldiers  marched  along. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  33 

Tha:  same  silk  flag  I  have  had  in  my  hands 
only  a  short  time  since.  Among  those  who 
shook  hands  with  her  that  day  was  the  beloved 
and  valiant  Gen.  Reno. 

It  has  been  said  truthfully,  that  the  sun 
never  shone  upon  a  more  patriotic  people  dur 
ing  those  trying  times,  than  the  loyal  Union 
men  and  women  of  the  South,  of  which  type 
our  heroine  was  a  distinguished  example.  She 
had  early  secured  a  United  States  flag,  and 
often  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  rebellion, 
when  matters  looked  dark  and  threatening  to 
the  Union  army,  I  have  seen  that  glorious 
emblem  of  our  country's  honor  floating  from 
the  dormer  window  of  her  house,  and  my  old 
neighbor  standing  beside  the  flag-staff  looking 
intently  at  that  which  is  the  symbol  of  freedom, 
equality  before  the  law,  and  the  just  rights  of 
mankind  wherever  unfurled.  A  consecrated, 
blessed  emblem.  Thousands  upon  thousands 
have  laid  down  their  lives  in  its  defense,  and 
if  required  in  the  future,  myriads  would  step 
forth  to  do  the  same  thing,  willing  to  die  that 
the  old  flag  might  still  wave. 

Three  miles  southeast  of  Frederick  City 
the  battle  of  the  Monocacy  River  was  fought. 


34  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

The  Union  soldiers  were  of  Gen.  Tyler's  divi 
sion  and  under  command  of  Gen.  Lewis  Wal 
lace.     They  fought  valiantly  but  were  finally 
repulsed  by  the  enemy,  who  were  in  superior 
numbers,    after    many    had    been    slain   and 
wounded  on  both  sides.     As  the  Union  army 
withdrew  they  set  fire  to  and  burned  the  large 
wooden  bridge  spanning  the  Monocacy  at  this 
point,  so  that  the  Confederates,  who  were  on 
the  western  bank  of  the  river,  found  it  more 
difficult  to  pursue  them.  Some  seventeen  miles 
westward  from   Frederick  City  the   battle   of 
South  Mountain  was  fought,  September   14, 
1862.     It   was    a   battle  of  great  interest  and 
magnitude.     The  excitement  in  Frederick  was 
almost  unbounded,  for  it  looked  as  though  our 
beloved  State  of  Maryland  might  become  the 
central  battle  ground  between  the  North  and 
the  South,  and  our  citizens  be  called  upon  to 
witness  terrible    scenes.     Happily,   this    was 
averted,  but  many  of  our  people  nevertheless 
suffered    severely   by   having   their   property 
taken  from  them  at  different  periods,  particu 
larly  by  the  raids  of  the  enemy.     As  General 
McClellan's  army  or  division  was  moving  on 
the  National  pike}  leading  westward,  they  had 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  35 

several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy.  The  one 
on  Catoctin  mountain  was  quite  severe,  lasting 
however,  only  a  short  time.  The  discharge  of 
the  musketry  could  be  heard  distinctly  in 
Frederick.  The  battle  of  South  Mountain  was 
a  decided  victory  for  the  Union  side.  It  was 
with  saddened  hearts,  however,  that  we  learn 
ed  that  in  the  engagement  the  brave  and  noble 
Gen.  Reno,  who  only  a  few  days  previous  had 
grasped  the  venerable  Mrs.  Fritchie  by  the 
hand,  lost  his  life  whilst  worthily  discharging 
his  duty. 

As  I  have  said  much  in  favor  of  our  aged 
heroine,  you  might  possibly  suppose  that  I  re 
garded  her  as  perfect.  Now  this  would  be  an 
incorrect  conclusion,  for  I  am  well  aware  that 
we  have  had  but  one  perfect  character  in  this 
sin-cursed  world,  and  that  was  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour.  We  do  say,  however,  that 
if  faults  arid  blemishes  did  exist — and  we  do 
not  for  a  moment  doubt  it — they  were  un 
known  to  the  writer  of  these  pages.  It  may 
be  that  her  many  virtues  and  excellencies  so 
completely  overshadowed  her  faults  as  to  ren 
der  them  undiscoverable  to  those  by  whom  she 
was  surrounded.  I  was  conversing  recently 


36  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

with  Mr.  John  Riehl,  a  neighbor  of  mine  for 
many  years,  and  with  whom  I  have  been  inti 
mately  acquainted.  He  was  also  for  many 
years  a  neighbor  of  Mrs.  Fritchie's.  Speaking 
of  our  heroine,  he  said,  that  when  a  boy  he 
was  sent  to  Mrs.  Fritchie's  every  day  for  milk, 
for  she  kept  a  cow  for  many  years.  Said  Mr. 
Riehl :  "You  know  the  old  lady  had  a  decided 
way  of  speaking."  I  said,  uYes."  "Well," 
continued  Mr.  Riehl,  "sometimes  when  I  would 
reach  her  house  the  milking  had  not  been  com 
pleted  and  she  would  say  to  me,  'Take  that 
small  branch  from  the  tree  and  keep  the  flies 
from  disturbing  the  cow  whilst  being  milked.' 
I  quickly  did  as  commanded  but  always  kept 
an  eye  on  her,  fearing  that  she  might  give  me 
a  whipping  if  I  did  not  do  it  to  please  her. 
After  I  reached  manhood  and  met  her  often  I 
found  that  she  possessed  one  of  the  kindest 
hearts  imaginable. " 

During  the  days  of  slavery,  long  before 
the  war,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fritchie  were  the  own 
ers  of  slaves.  "Fritchie's  Harry"  and  "Aunt 
Nellie"  were  known  quite  well.  "Harry"  used 
to  work  in  the  skin  dressing  department  and 
"Old  Aunt  Nellie,"  at  the  household  duties. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  37 

They  were  very  clever  people,  and  were  treated 
with  great  kindness  by  their  owners.  They 
in  turn,  loved  "Old  Massa"  and  "Old  Missus," 
insomuch  that  when  Harry  was  allowed  to  go 
and  do  for  himself  and  live  in  another  part  of 
the  town  he  would  be  constantly  coming  back 
to  see  "Old  Massa"  and  "Old  Missus"  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  If  the  same  kind  feel 
ing  had  existed  between  all  owners  of  slaves, 
several  of  the  most  thrilling  chapters  in  "Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin,"  by  Mrs.  Stowe  would  never 
have  been  written  in  truth. 

You  will  pardon,  I  feel  assured,  a  digres 
sion  before  proceeding  further  with  the  life  of 
our  heroine,  by  calling  attention  briefly  to  an 
other  remarkable  person,  a  native  of  Frederick 
county. 

About  thirteen  miles  to  the  northwest  of 
Frederick  City,  is  located  the  former  residence 
of  that  intelligent  Christian  hero,  George  Bless 
ing.  He  lived  his  lifetime  in  Middletown  Val 
ley,  and  bore  an  irreproachable  character.  He 
was  known  for  a  considerable  distance  around 
for  his  deeds  of  valor  and  heroism.  I  will  give 
a  short  account  of  this  distinguished  patriot. 
His  library  did  not  consist  of  a  choice  collec- 


38  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

tion,  culled  from  the  most  distinguished 
authors  of  the  day.  No  !  it  consisted  of  only 
a  few  books,  but  these  were  of  the  very  best, 
and  were  read  over  and  over  again.  He  never 
became  weary  of  perusing  two  of  them;  his 
well-worn  Bible  and  the  "Lives  of  American 
Statesmen."  On  his  countenance  firmness  was 
depicted,  and  his  broad  forehead  indicated 
sound  judgment.  His  eyes  were  blue,  and  in 
his  bosom  beat  a  kind  and  noble  heart.  The 
picture  here  inserted  is  a  perfect  likeness  of 
Mr.  Blessing.  The  original  was  loaned  me  by 
one  of  his  near  relatives,  who  prizes  it  very 
highly.  When  the  Confederate  army  came  into 
Maryland,  Mr.  Blessing's  home  afforded  tem 
porary  shelter  for  those  fleeing  before  the  ad 
vancing  foe.  On  leaving  they  always  advised 
him  to  accompany  them,  but  he  invariably  re 
fused,  saying  that  he  intended  to  remain  and 
by  God's  help  protect  his  home  and  family.  I 
have  been  at  his  former  home  since  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  it  is  surely  a  beautiful  and 
romantic  place.  When  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain  was  being  fought  the  report  of  the 
artillery  and  discharge  of  the  musketry  could 
be  distinctly  heard  at  his  residence,  known  as 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  39 

"Highlands."  he  had  on  hand  several  old  guns 
which  he  had  obtained  at  different  periods. 
These  he  commenced  cleaning  and  loading, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  son  Lewis.  On  the 
morning  of  the  9th  of  September,  news  came 
that  the  enemy  were  approaching  the  bounda 
ries  of  his  farm.  His  situation,  considering 
how  strong  a  Union  man  he  had  always  been, 
was  indeed  perilous,  but  he  was  perfectly 
calm  and  asked  his  family  to  engage  with 
him  in  prayer,  in  which  he  implored  the 
Almighty  to  protect  him  and  all  the  beloved 
members  of  his  family,  and  if  in  accordance 
with  His  will  still  uphold  the  old  flag.  Such 
scenes  make  lasting  impressions  on  those 
present.  He  listened  not  to  the  entreaties 
of  the  female  portion  of  his  family  to  still 
make  his  escape.  Calling  his  son  Lewis  to 
take  two  of  the  guns,  they  started  for  the  barn 
yard,  where  they  secreted  themselves  and 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  foe.  They  soon 
saw  a  squad  of  men  approaching'  The  inva 
ders  drew  near  cautiously,  and  not  meeting 
with  opposition  one  of  them  dismounted  and 
commenced  breaking  open  the  stable  door. 
Mr.  Blessing  called  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "If 


40  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

you  touch  that  door  again  you  shall  surely 
suffer."  They  all  looked  arouud  and  gazed  in 
every  direction,  but  were  unable  to  determine 
from  whence  the  sound  came.  They  looked 
startled,  as  though  they  had  heard  an  unearth 
ly  sound.  At  length  they  became  calm  and 
began  their  work  again.  Mr.  Blessing  and 
his  son  fired  their  guns  at  the  same  time  upon 
the  intruders.  Both  balls  proved  effective. 
The  right  arm  dropped  at  the  side  of  one  of 
the  men.  The  balance  observing  a  cross-fire, 
and  believeing  that  a  large  force  was  hidden 
and  waiting  to  be  attacked,  fled  at  once,  leav 
ing  their  wounded  comrade  behind,  and  loudly 
declaring  that  they  would  return  and  take 
revenge  on  Mr.  Blessing  and  his  supporters. 
As  they  were  retreating  Mr.  Blessing  fired  a 
second  shot  after  them.  It  entered  the  back 
of  one  of  their  number  and  he  fell  dead  on  the 
ground.  Mr.  Blessing  took  the  man  that  was 
wounded  to  his  own  home  and  had  his  wounds 
dressed.  As  the  old  hero  met  his  beloved  wife 
he  exclaimed,  "Praise  God,  we  are  yet  safe." 
His  wife,  fearing  that  they  might  return  in 
large  numbers,  once  more  urged  him  to  seek 
refuge  in  flight,  but  he  said  he  had  abiding 


MR.  BLESSING 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  41 

confidence  in  the  true  and  living  God  and 
therefore  stood  unmoved.  He  loaded  his  guns 
once  more,  and  having  given  orders  about  the 
family  not  leaving  the  house,  started  for  the 
stable.  When  he  reached  that  point  he  helped 
to  place  the  body  of  the  dead  man  in  the 
stable,  subsequently  it  was  buried,  and  then 
waited  for  the  foe.  He  did  not  have  to  wait 
long,  for  soon  a  number  of  horsemen  heavily 
armed  came  riding  down  the  lane.  When 
they  had  gotten  near  where  Mr.  Blessing  was, 
three  of  the  men  were  ordered  to  go  forward 
and  find  out  what  force  the  old  hero  had  at  his 
command  with  which  to  oppose  them,  and 
return  as  soon  as  possible  and  report.  As 
they  were  passing  the  clump  of  trees,  Mr. 
Blessing  shouted  "halt !"  and  then  said,  "what 
is  your  business  ?"  They  replied,  to  learn 
what  force  you  have."  Then  said  Mr.  Bless 
ing,  "form  into  line  and  cross  the  road,  and 
enter  into  my  service,  the  man  disobeying  will 
be  instantly  shot."  They  did  as  commanded. 
The  soldiers  in  the  distance  fired  vigorously 
at  Mr.  Blessing,  and  he  just  as  earnestly  re 
turned  their  fire.  They  knew  not  what  to  do. 
At  length,  believing  the  old  hero's  force  to  be 


42  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

much  larger  than  it  really  was,  they  concluded 
to  withdraw.  As  they  wheeled  around  Mr. 
Blessing  quickly  aimed  a  shot  at  the  leader  of 
the  band  and  wounded  him  severely,  for  he 
was  seen  to  fall  forward  on  his  horse's  neck, 
and  was  hurriedly  taken  away  by  his  fellow 
soldiers.  The  men  whom  he  had  captured 
stood  almost  dumbfounded  at  what  they  had 
witnessed.  On  dismissing  them  he  gave  each 
man  his  hand,  and  urged  one  and  all  of  them 
in  the  most  heartfelt  manner  to  be  true  in  the 
future  to  God  and  his  country.  When  he 
reached  home,  it  is  impossible  to  express  the 
joy  of  his  beloved  family  at  receiving  him  once 
more.  If  they  shed  tears,  if  they  threw  their 
arms  around  and  embraced  him,  we  need  not 
wonder,  for  his  was  almost  a  miraculous  pre 
servation.  "Blessed  be  God,"  he  said,  "for  he 
has  protected  and  defended  me."  A  third  time 
he  reloaded  his  gun  and  walked  down  the  lane. 
It  was  not  long  before  a  large  force  was  seen 
approaching.  Resolving  to  die,  if  die  he  must, 
with  his  face  to  the  foe,  he  came  out  away  from 
all  concealment,  and  raising  his  gun,  was 
making  ready  to  fire,  when  he  noticed  a  white 
flag  waving.  What  can  it  mean  he  thought. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  43 

It  surely  must  be  the  sign  for  a  truce.  You 
can  readily  imagine  his  joy  at  discovering  as 
they  drew  near  that  instead  of  enemies  they 
were  friends.  Cole's  Cavalry,  who  were  some 
distance  off,  learning  of  his  situation  and 
bravery  at  once  hastened  toward  his  residence 
to  extend  all  the  assistance  in  their  power. 

We  must  now  resume  the  history  of  our 
heroine.  She  enjoyed  remarkably  good  health, 
scarcely  knowing  what  it  was  to  be  sick,  until 
the  last,  and  of  course,  fatal  attack  came  on, 
when  like  a  sheaf  of  wheat,  ready  to  be  gar 
nered,  she  gently,  and  sweetly  rested  in  the 
arms  of  her  Saviour.  Having  been  clothed 
with  immortal  life,  she  reached  that  city  out 
of  sight  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God.  Yes, 
Mrs.  Fritchie  at  length  became  enfeebled  by 
age  and  gathering  her  robes  about  her,  she 
calmly  waited  for  the  coming  of  her  blessed 
Lord.  He  came  on  that  bleak,  cold,  i8th  day 
of  December,  1862.  All  without  was  dreary 
aud  gloomy,  but  within  that  chamber  of  death 
there  was  perfect  peace,  beautifully  exemplify 
ing  that  passage  of  Scripture  "Those  shall 
rest  in  perfect  peace  whose  minds  are  stayed 
on  Him."  Life's  flickering  lamp  at  length 


44  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

ceased  to  burn,  and  as  far  as  this  world  is  con 
cerned,  all  was  over,  all  had  closed.  We  doubt 
not  but  that  our  aged  friend  is  now  enjoying 
and  will  forever  enjoy  raptures  of  bliss  around 
the  throne  of  God.  How  precious  is  such  a 
memory.  Ninety  some  years  to  God  and  her 
country  given,  and  now  at  home  in  Heaven. 
What  a  glorious  thought  it  is,  that  after  life's 
cares  and  anxieties  are  all  over, — and  some  in 
passing  through  this  would  meet  with  so  much 
trouble, — we  reach  at  length  the  New  Jerusa 
lem,  to  go  out  no  more  forever.  Mrs.  Fritchie's 
remains  rest  in  the  Cemetery  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  Frederick  City,  in  a  lot  enclosed 
with  an  iron  railing,  beside  her  husband.  A  neat 
block  of  marble  has  been  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  grave,  and  bears  the  following  inscription. 

Barbara  Fritchie,  died  December  i8th, 
1862.  Aged  96  years. 

Her  age  as  given  me  by  Mrs.  Hanshew, 
taken  from  the  old  family  Bible,  was  96  years 
and  15  days.  A  small  block  of  marble  at  the 
foot  of  the  grave,  bears  the  initials  UB.  F." 

The  block  of  marble  at  the  head  of  her 
husband's  grave  is  similar  to  that  of  his  wife's 
and  reads : 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  45 

"John  C.  Fritchie,  died  November  loth, 
1849.  Aged  69  years. " 

The  small  block  at  the  foot  bears  the  in 
itials  UJ.  C.  F."  The  Cemetery  is  beautifully 
located,  somewhat  elevated  toward  the  eastern 
part,  or  front,  and  gradually  declining  as  it 
extends  westward.  It  fronts  on  Bentz  street, 
at  the  west  end  of  Second  street.  On  visiting 
the  Cemetery  lately  I  found  a  small  United 
States  flag  gently  waving  over  her  grave.  It 
needs  no  storied  urn  or  animated  bust  to  per 
petuate  her  memory  or  that  of  Francis  Scott 
Key,  a  Marylander  by  birth  and  a  native  of 
this  county,  whose  remains  have  been  depos 
ited  in  Mount  Olivet  Cemetery  in  this  city. 
And  yet  I  hope  that  ere  long  monuments  of 
an  imposing  character  will  be  erected  to  the 
memory  of  these  distinguished  patriots.  Sum 
mer  in  all  its  beauty  may  come  and  go,  wintry 
winds  around  us  rudely  blow,  but  who  shall 
know  the  time  when  the  youthful  heart  shall 
cease  to  glow  at  the  mention  of  Barbara  Fritch- 
ie's  name.  O,  how  much  from  such  an  exam 
ple  we  may  learn.  It  gleams  forth  at  almost 
every  turn,  and  one  of  the  leading  facts  that 
we  should  discern,  is  that  our  hearts  should 


46  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

ever  burn  with  love  and  devotion  to  our  blessed 
country.  Any  one  can  speak  well  of  his 
country  when  all  is  calm  and  clear,  when 
naught  can  do  us  harm.  Who  need  fear,  at 
such  a  time,  even  an  Arnold  may  appear  to 
hold  his  country's  interest  dear  and  speak  in 
her  defense.  O,  where  could  baser  ingratitude 
appear,  than  after  enjoying  our  country's 
blessings  far  and  near,  she  should  call,  and 
we  turn  a  deaf  ear,  or  be  a  stumbling  block  in 
the  way. 

May  we  to  our  country  be  firm  as  a  rock 
or  wall,  willing  for  her  to  stand  or  fall,  ready 
for  her  to  risk  our  lives,  our  all.  Such  was 
Barbara  Fritchie.  Her  brothers  and  sisters 
have  long  since  passed  from  this  sphere  of 
action.  All  of  them  have  exchanged  time  for 
eternity.  Numerous  relatives,  however,  are 
still  living.  A  son  of  Mr.  Daniel  Hauer,  rel 
atives  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Mantz,  children  of 
Mr.  George  Hauer  and  the  widow  of  Mr.  Henry 
Hanshew  and  her  children,  besides  others 
distantly  related,  reside  in  our  midst,  and  are 
among  our  very  best  and  most  useful  citizens. 
Mr.  George  Eissler  purchased  the  "Fritchie 
property,"  after  the  decease  of  our  heroine,  from 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  47 

the  heirs,  and  conducted  the  dyeing  business 
at  that  place  for  several  years.  Whilst  Mr. 
Eissler  owned  the  property  we  were  visited  by 
the  "great  freshet"  of  July  24th,  1868.  The 
water  rose  to  a  great  height  and  washed  out  a 
corner  of  the  uFritchie  building."  Afterward 
the  corporation  of  Frederick,  from  a  desire  to 
avoid  danger  in  the  future,  bought  the  prop 
erty  from  Mr.  Eissler  and  after  selling  the 
building  as  it  stood,  on  the  lot  from  which  it 
was  removed  in  a  short  time  by  Mr.  James 
Hopwood  the  purchaser,  the  Corporation  com 
menced  the  work  of  widening  the  stream,  tak 
ing  in  a  portion  of  the  lot,  where  Mrs.  Fritchie 
formerly  resided,  and  subsequently  sold  the 
balance  of  the  lot  to  Mr.  James  Hopwood 
whose  son,  James  W.  Hopwood,  purchased  it 
from  his  father  and  erected  a  two-story  brick 
dwelling  with  store  room  in  front,  where  he 
has  conducted  the  tinning  business  ever  since. 
When  the  work  of  removing  the  building  com 
menced  the  deep  interest  felt  in  our  aged  de 
ceased  neighbor  was  manifested  by  many  of 
the  citizens  gathering  around  and  collecting 
small  bits  of  wood  from  doors  and  window 
frames.  This  continued  until  the  gentleman 


48  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

who  had  purchased  the  material  of  the  build 
ing,  announced  that  he  would  make  a  number 
of  canes  out  of  the  wood  of  the  window  frames 
and  rafters,  which  were  of  solid  oak,  and  fur 
nish  them  to  the  public  at  a  reasonable  price. 
This  he  did,  and  some  persons  secured  several, 
to  present  to  valued  friends  as  "mementoes. J> 
Polished  up  nicely  they  presented  a  very  pretty 
appearance.  Meeting  a  friend  with  one  on  the 
street  a  short  time  since  I  asked  him  what 
amount  he  would  take  for  it.  "Oh,"  said  he, 
"I  would  not  take  anything  in  reason,  for  I  do 
not  know  where  I  could  obtain  another." 

What  could  rejoice  the  heart  of  Mrs. 
Fritchie  more,  who  has  long  since  reached  the 
"Everlasting  City,"  than  looking  down  from 
her  celestial  home  (for  we  believe  that  the 
spirits  in  bliss  are  cognizant  of  what  is  going 
on  in  this  world,)  upon  the  land  she  so  much 
loved,  and  seeing  that  land  growing  in  wealth 
and  in  power;  taking  her  place  among  the 
most  notable  nations  on  earth  in  rank  and  in 
fluence.  Go  on,  our  native  land,  may  God 
give  us  grace  to  sustain  thy  free  institutions 
and  uphold  thy  laws.  The  government  of  the 
United  States  is  now  acknowledged  to  be  the 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  49 

best  on  earth  by  all  fair  minded  people,  for  here 
all  the  officers  are  elected  by  and  held  respon 
sible  to  the  people  for  all  official  acts.  The 
various  nations  of  the  earth  are  now  treating 
with  the  greatest  respect  and  consideration  the 
United  States,  observing  that  she  is  rapidly 
increasing  in  population  and  making  great 
progress  each  passing  hour  in  science,  art  and 
agriculture,  and  it  will  doubtless  continue 
until  we  attain  to  the  most  complete  develop 
ment  possible. 

Our  territory  is  now  reaching  far  and 
wide,  and  we  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  is  des 
tined  some  day  to  include  Canada  and  Cuba. 
The  worthy  emigrant  can  here  secure  a  home 
and  become  a  citizen  of  this  great  country.  It 
is  our  duty  to  take  such  by  the  hand  and  show 
them  that  by  industry  and  sobriety  they  may 
attain  to  high  positions  of  trust  and  influence, 
as  well  as  respectability,  and  enjoy  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  freemen,  such,  as  were  un 
known  to  them  in  the  ''Fatherland."  But  in 
order  to  become  such  citizens  they  must  en 
deavor  to  assimilate  with  our  government  and 
give  their  cordial  support  to  all  the  principles 
and  laws  that  have  in  the  past  conduced  to 


60  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

make  us  a  great  people.  A  most  gratifying 
fact  to  every  lover  of  his  country,  is,  that 
twenty-five  years  have  worked  wondrous 
changes  in  the  minds  of  the  American  people, 
and  many  doctrines  deemed  false  and  unten 
able  at  that  time  are  now  accepted  as  truths 
and  acquiesced  in  by  the  great  masses  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States.  And  we  have  the 
glorious  knowledge  that  from  North  to  South, 
and  from  East  to  West,  all  over  this  vast  do 
main,  where  heretofore  alienation  existed,  you 
now  find  a  spirit  of  concord  and  brotherly  love 
springing  up,  which  is  so  essential  to  happiness 
and  all  that  renders  life  enjoyable  and  enables 
us  to  bear  patiently  the  difficulties  with  which 
we  have  to  contend.  It  is  a  blessed  thing  to 
have  peace  in  a  family  and  also  in  the  nation, 
doing  entirely  away  with  discord  and  strife 
and  all  ill-nature,  especially  such  evil  feelings 
as  have  been  engendered  by  the  warfare  of  one 
section  of  our  beloved  country  against  another. 
It  has  to  be,  however,  a  gradual  work  for  the 
great  animosity,  yea !  genuine  hatred,  exhibi 
ted  by  one  section  toward  the  other  can  only 
be  eradicated  as  time  rolls  on.  It  is  a  blessed 
thing  to  forgive  and  forget.  We  rejoice  that 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  51 

the  time  is  hastening  on  when  brother  and 
friend  shall  heartily  greet  each  other  and  let 
the  dead  past  be  blotted  out  of  remembrance 
from  one  portion  of  the  country  to  the  other. 
So  that,  with  loving  expressions,  the  Blue  and 
the  Grey,  who  had  engaged  in  many  a  desper 
ate  conflict  on  the  battle-field,  where  both  dis 
played  great  bravery  amid  most  trying  scenes, 
where  the  courage  of  the  one  or  the  other  was 
never  questioned,  can,  laying  everything  else 
aside,  once  more  meet,  forgetting,  as  it  were, 
past  differences,  on  common  ground  and  feel 
that  now  mutual  interest  and  sympathy  exist, 
however  far  asunder  they  may  have  been  be 
fore.  How  pleasant,  how  joyful  will  that  time 
be.  Many  are  anxiously  awaiting  the  period  of 
complete  restoration  of  fraternal  feeling.  Then 
will  the  past  be  left  forever  at  rest  and  then 
will  harmony  and  good-will  once  more  abound. 
What  valid  reason  can  be  assigned  for 
keeping  up  this  evil  spirit,  for  all  the  issues 
involved  have  long  since  been  settled  !  If  we 
expect  and  desire  the  nation  to  prosper  we 
must  all  work  heartily  together  for  its  upbuild 
ing,  and  then  success  will  crown  our  efforts. 
The  passions  of  excited  persons  may  lead  them 


52  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

into  great  wrong,  but  a  time  will  come  for 
sound  judgment  to  assert  its  sway,  and  then 
matters  are  viewed  in  a  different  light  from 
what  they  were  before. 

During  the  late  war  when  opposing  armies 
covered  the  plain  and  the  dull  sound  of  cannon 
could  be  heard  in  Frederick,  even  from  the 
battle-field  at  Gettysburg,  it  is  not  to  be  won 
dered  at  that  excitement  ran  high,  for  moment 
ous  issues  were  indeed  involved.  Mrs.  Fritchie 
amid  it  all  was  calm  and  collected.  "What  I 
do  thou  knowest  not  now,  but  shalt  know  here 
after,"  saith  Jehovah,  and  our  aged  friend  be 
lieved  it  fully.  We  one  day  shall  know  that 
what  God  has  done  for  you,  for  me,  for  all,  is 
undoubtedly  the  best.  And  yet  this  is  so  hard 
to  learn  and  understand  because  we  want  our 
own  way,  and  are  not  willing  to  be  led  by  "in 
finite  wisdom."  Mrs.  Fritchie  believed  that 
God  saw  that  it  was  best  for  all  the  people  of 
this  great  nation  to  be  free  and  thus  make  our 
Declaration  of  Independence  not  a  mockery, 
but  true  and  complete.  Free  as  the  air  we 
breathe,  yes,  free  as  all  would  wish  to  be,  for 
who  that  has  enjoyed  liberty,  for  only  a  single 
moment,  or  day,  would  wish  to  be  bound  in 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  53 

chains  again.  The  union  of  the  States  must 
be  held  inviolate,  must  not  be  disturbed.  In 
it  there  is  strength,  there  is  power.  We  will 
be  held  responsible  and  will  unquestionably 
have  to  give  account  for  the  influence  we  have 
exerted.  This  free,  united  country,  is  yet  to 
do  a  great  work  in  the  evangelization  of  the 
world.  Who  can  for  a  moment  doubt,  but  that 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner"  will  eventually 
be  planted  in  distant  lands  where  darkness 
and  superstition  now  reign  supreme.  Glorious 
Banner,  each  star  and  stripe  has  been  baptized 
in  blood,  destined  to  float,  as  we  believe,  the 
wide  world  over,  and  proving  the  harbinger  of 
every  blessing.  May  we  not  hope  that  the 
day  is  not  distant  when  all  nations  shall  enjoy 
the  blessing  so  long  vouchsafed  to  us.  Colum 
bia,  thou  hast  given  birth  to  many  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  that  have  ever  lived.  Among 
that  number  stands  the  noble  Washington, 
who,  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  service  as 
President  of  the  United  States,  when  he  might 
have  proclaimed  himself,  or  been  declared 
Emperor  of  the  people,  quietly  laid  aside  the 
insignia  of  office  and  became  a  private  citizen. 
What  a  noble  course  was  this  pursued  by  the 


64  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

beloved  Father  of  his  Country.  Civil  and 
religious  liberty  has  beeu  fully  established  in 
the  United  States,  to  continue,  we  hope,  as 
long  as  the  world  shall  stand.  We  would  not 
interfere  with  the  powers  that  be,  but  we  do 
believe  that  ere  many  years  shall  have  rolled 
around,  principles  of  freedom  will  take  root 
and  begin  to  spring  up.  When  we  think  of 
Sixteen  Hundred  and  Twenty,  when  this  land 
was  a  wilderness,  inhabited  by  savages  and 
wild  beasts,  how  dismal  and  gloomy  was  the 
scene  presented.  It  was  enough  to  cause  the 
heart  to  sink  in  the  strongest  man,  surrounded, 
almost,  by  the  deep,  dark  ocean,  away  from 
friends  and  relatives,  the  passengers  and  crew 
of  the  "May  Flower,"  all  landed,  save  one,  on 
Plymouth's  rock-bound  shore.  We  cannot 
feel  too  grateful  to  God  for  having  spared  the 
lives  of  those  worthy,  fearless  persons  amid  so 
much  privation  and  danger.  Kind  reader, 
have  you  ever  felt  what  it  is  to  be  on  land  or 
sea  in  this  world  and  feel  that  you  are  alone  ? 
If  you  have  not,  would  that  you  may  never 
experience  it.  And  now,  as  these  people  had 
left  their  friends,  never  again  in  all  probability 
to  meet  with  them  in  this  world,  you  can 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  55 

readily  imagine  what  distress  and  sorrow  must 
have  filled  their  minds,  and  yet,  for  conscience 
sake,  they  were  willing  to  give  up  all,  to  for 
sake  all.  A  funeral  at  sea  !  have  you  ever 
read  of  or  witnessed  one  ?  If  you  have  I  need 
not  remind  you  of  its  solemnity.  During  the 
long  and  tedious  sailing  on  the  restless  ocean, 
but  one  death  occured,  only  one  was  prevented 
by  Divine  Providence  from  reaching  this 
country  alive.  One  was  also  born  on  the  wild 
ocean's  breast,  Peregrime  White,  and  he  land 
ed  with  the  rest.  Sweet  babe,  the  ocean  bed 
was  thy  cradle,  and  the  surging  of  the  wild 
waves  the  first  sound  that  thou  didst  hear. 
From  that  small  beginning  we  are  now  a  great 
and  prosperous  Nation. 

What  a  remarkable  example  of  God's  fos 
tering  care  does  this  land  present.  We  now 
number  over  sixty  million  souls.  When  we 
think  of  it  we  are  astonished  beyond  measure 
the  increase  has  been  so  great  and  rapid.  We 
have  in  this  country  every  kind  of  soil  and  al 
most  every  kind  of  plant,  animal  and  insect, 
and  the  variations  of  climate  make  it  pleasant 
and  agreeable  to  all.  Surely,  of  a  land  to 
which  so  much  is  given,  much  will  be  required 


56  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

Let  us  then  be  actively  engaged  in  sending 
forth  to  the  world  everything  that  tends  to  ele 
vate  and  benefit  mankind.  It  is  very  pleasant 
after  traveling  on  the  ocean  for  a  number  of 
days,  to  see  at  length  the  "light-house"  in  the 
distance.  Well,  we  predict  that  ere  another 
hundred  years  shall  have  passed  this  country 
will  have  become  the  "Beacon  Light'1  of  the 
world,  gleaming  forth  so  that  men  can  see  in 
all  directions,  making  steady  advancement  in 
everything  calculated  to  benefit  and  ennoble 
the  human  race,  proving  the  contrary  to  those 
who  have  so  sneeringly  asserted  that  a  "Re 
public"  cannot  endure.  A  free  Church  and 
Ministry,  entirely  separate  from  state,  is  what 
we  must  ever  approve.  We  need  not  fear  a 
foreign  foe,  for  we  believe  that  we  are  strong 
enough  (even  with  our  poor  coast  defence)  to 
repel  an  attempted  invasion,  coming  from  any 
source  whatever.  What  we  have  most  to 
guard  against  is  internal  strife  and  contention. 
Our  liberal  principles  of  government, 
founded  on  religious  toleration,  have  brought 
to  our  shores  people  of  every  creed  and  every 
nation,  the  worthy  immigrant,  as  well  as  the 
anarchist,  and  outcast;  these  conflicting  elc- 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  57 

ments  have  all  to  be  dealt  with  firmly  and 
judiciously.  Never  has  there  been  more  de 
mand  for  Christian  and  philanthropic  efforts 
than  for  the  past  thirty  years,  and  most  nobly 
have  our  people  responded  to  the  call,  as  may 
be  attested  from  the  number  and  magnitude  of 
our  educational,  scientific,  religious,  and  chari 
table  institutions.  Neither  have  our  efforts  to 
benefit  mankind  been  confined  within  our  own 
borders.  What  Christian  missionaries  in  any 
country  have  shown  greater  zeal  than  our  own 
in  obeying  the  Master's  command,  uGo  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel"  ?  Our 
principles  of  free  government  naturally  incline 
us  to  sympathize  with  the  down-trodden  of 
other  lands.  During  the  late  persecutions  of 
the  Christian  Armenians  by  the  blood-thirsty 
Moslem,  it  remained  for  America  to  take  the 
initiative  step  in  aiding  the  helpless  sufferers. 
Whilst  the  other  Christians  stood  aghast  at 
such  wonderful  cruelties,  who  but  an  Ameri 
can  woman,  and  that  our  own  noble  Clara 
Barton  was  the  first  to  venture  forth  with  aid 
and  comfort  for  the  long  suffering  subjects  of 
a  despotic  government,  and  under  the  emblem 
of  that  cross  which  even  the  fanatical  Turk 


58  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

was  forced  to  respect.  We  sincerely  hope  that 
the  day  may  soon  come  when  all  nations  may 
enjoy  the  same  blessings  that  have  been 
granted  us  for  so  long  a  time,  for  when  the 
rights  of  the  people  are  trampled  on  and  not 
recognized  in  any  way,  then  is  unrest  and  up 
heaval,  the  powerful  oppress  the  weak  and  the 
helpless  are  crushed  to  the  earth,  until  at 
length,  the  cry  goes  up  to  Heaven  "Oh  Lord 
how  long?"  May  we  continue  in  the  enjoy 
ment  of  peace  in  this  land,  and  ever  move  for 
ward  and  upward  in  everything  that  is  worthy 
and  commendable,  endeavoring  to  excel  in 
every  good  word  and  work,  and  at  length 
become  what  the  Almighty  assuredly  designed 
we  should  be  uthe  greatest  land  and  people 
on  earth." 

My  small  book  must  now  be  brought  to  a 
close.  In  sending  it  forth  I  hope  that  it  may 
be  the  means  of  shedding  light  on  some  dis 
puted  points  in  the  life  of  my  venerable  neigh 
bor,  and  highly  esteemed  friend,  Mrs.  Barbara 
Fritchie.  I  have  stated  facts  in  connection 
with  her  four- score  years  and  over,  which  I 
hope  may  prove  interesting  to  all.  I  have  en 
deavored  to  impress  on  the  youthful  mind  the 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  59 

importance  of  ever  showing  unswerving  devo 
tion  to  our  beloved  country.  Nothing  has 
been  written  in  haste,  or  in  an  unkind,  un 
charitable  spirit,  but  rather  in  the  true  spirit 
of  harmony  and  love.  That  it  may  lead  to 
kindlier  and  better  feelings  among  those  who 
have  long  been  estranged  is  my  sincere  prayer. 
I  have  submitted  the  manuscript  to  the  near 
est  relatives  of  Mrs.  Fritchie  now  living,  and 
after  perusal  they  have  staled  to  me  that  they 
believe  it  to  be  entirely  correct  and  did  not 
notice  anything  that  should  be  changed. 

I  will  here  append  a  single  statement  of 
one  of  Mrs.  Fritchie's  relatives,  Mrs.  John  H. 
Abbott,  in  substantiation  of  what  I  have  stated. 
A  large  number  of  certificates  are  uncalled  for 
or  I  could  easily  obtain  and  insert  many.  The 
statement  from  Mrs.  Abbott  to  which  I  refer 
appeared  in  the  Frederick  News  in  July,  1897, 
and  is  as  follows : 

uMrs.  Abbott,  as  a  grandniece  of  Whit- 
tier's  heroine,  is  in  possession  of  papers  and 
articles  once  belonging  to  her  famous  relative 
and  also  in  a  peculiar  position  to  have  first 
hand  and  accurate  information  of  the  facts  in 
the  case.  Mrs.  Abbott  writes  that  Barbara 


60  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

Fritchie's  signature  of  May,  1858,  on  business 
papers  that  passed  between  her  and  her  busi 
ness  agent,  when  nearly  92  years  of  age,  is 
remarkable  as  giving  evidence  of  what  she 
must  have  been  able  to  do  in  earlier  life. 

"She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  Ger 
man  parentage,  and  may  truthfully  be  called 
a  German  woman,  but  Mrs.  Abbott  states  that 
she  neither  read  or  spoke  the  German  lan 
guage.  As  to  her  personal  character,  Mrs. 
Abbott  says  that  her  greataunt  was  unosten 
tatious  and  unassuming  in  manner,  but  of  a 
highly  refined  nature.  She  had  firmness  and 
decision  of  character,  also,  when  she  believed 
herself  in  the  right,  but  was  ever  gentle  and 
sympathetic  when  occasion  required.  She  was 
a  woman  of  fine  sensibilities,  and  fully  alive 
to  all  that  was  transpiring  around  her. 

"  'Her  education/  Mrs.  Abbott  writes, 
'was  completed  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and 
was  the  best  that  could  be  obtained  in  her  day. 
Not  only  was  she  fully  able  to  write,  but  she 
was  a  thoroughly  well  read  woman.' ' 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  61 


Description  of  Frederick,  City 
Dytarylarid. 


62  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  63 


EAUTIFUL  City  of  Frederick  !  Located 
in  the  lovely  Monocacy  valley,  between 
the  Catoctin  mountain  on  the  West,  and  the 
Sngar  Loaf  mountain  on  the  East,  wonder  not 
that  we  love  to  stray  among  thy  hills  and  val 
leys,  for  from  1745  when  the  village  of  Fred 
erick  was  located,  and  named  after  "Frederick, 
Prince  of  Wales,"  her  whole  history  has  been 
of  the  most  ennobling  character.  In  the  early 
history  of  this  land,  when  oppressed  by  the 
mother  country,  the  sons  of  Frederick  City, 
and  county,  went  forth  with  alacrity  in  her 
defense  and  when  the  demand  was  again  made 
in  1775  for  more  soldiers,  two  companies  were 
formed,  and  under  command  of  Captain  Mich 
ael  Cresop  and  Captain  Thomas  Price,  with 
John  Ross  Key  as  subordinate  officer,  (Father 
of  Francis  Scott  Key)  marched  from  Frederick- 
town  to  the  camp  at  Boston  to  join  Col.  Wash 
ington.  All  demands  ever  made  were  most 
cheerfully  responded  to.  The  following  highly 
important  utterances  were  made  by  Frederick- 
town  June  17,  1776:  "That  what  maybe  re- 


64  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

commended  by  a  majority  of  the  Congress, 
equally  delegated  by  the  people  of  the  United 
Colonies  we  will  at  the  hazard  of  our  lives  and 
fortune  support  and  maintain;  and  that  every 
resolution  of  the  convention  tending  to  sepa 
rate  this  province  from  a  majority  of  the  Col 
onies,  without  the  consent  of  the  people,  is  de 
struction  to  our  internal  safety  and  big  with 
public  ruin."  On  the  iyth  of  January,  1781, 
Gen.  Morgan  won  a  glorious  victory  over  Tar- 
leton  at  the  Cowpens.  It  was  in  the  pursuit 
that  followed  this  battle  that  the  gallant  Sar- 
geant  Everhart,  of  Frederick  county,  saved  the 
life  of  Col.  Washington,  at  the  head  of  the 
Virginia  cavalry.  Many  years  after  when  Col, 
Washington  visited  Frederick,  he  sent  for  his 
old  friend  Everhart,  and  grasping  his  hand 
embraced  him.  The  meeting  is  said  to  have 
been  quite  affecting.  Sargeant  Everhart  was 
one  of  the  rescuers  also  of  Lafayette  from  his 
dangerous  situation  on  the  Brandywine.  He 
died  in  his  86th  year  within  a  few  miles  of 
Frederick.  We  were  shown  his  sword,  as  well 
as  other  military  articles  that  belonged  to  him 
whilst  living,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
him  before  his  death. 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  65 

In  the  year  1777  barracks  for  the  garrison 
of  two  batallions  of  infantry  were  erected  in 
Frederick.  The  old  buildings  stood  long  upon 
the  Southern  suburbs  of  the  town,  and  have 
now  partially  disappeared.  The  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Asylum  stands  on  a  portion  of  the  site. 
They  were  used  also  to  confine  British  prison 
ers  of  war.  The  old  original  log  jail  was  also 
used  for  the  same  purpose.  Afterward  the 
barracks  was  used  by  the  State  of  Maryland  as 
an  Armory,  and  the  last  use  made  of  the  build 
ings  (prior  to  the  Asylum  taking  charge  of 
them,)  was  when  the  "Home  Guard"  of  Fred 
erick  were  guarding  the  City.  The  members 
would  meet  there  and  be  sent  in  squads  to 
guard  the  different  sections  of  the  City.  They 
used  first  to  meet  at  Coppersmith's  Hall,  cor 
ner  of  Market  and  Church  streets,  and  wrere 
commanded  by  Gen.  John  A.  Steiner,  Captain 
Alfred  Brengle,  Captain  Saunders  and  others 
at  different  periods.  Here  permit  me  to  say 
that  justice  has  never  been  done  those  men 
who  traversed  the  streets  of  the  City  of  Fred 
erick,  night  after  night  with  guns  on  their 
shoulders,  and  heavy  ones  they  were,  during 
the  perilous  times  just  preceding  the  war. 


66  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

We  were  glad  to  notice  honorable  mention 
made  of  them  by  Mr.  Chas.  W.  Miller  in  his 
recently  published  "Directory  and  Business 
Guide."  The  position  they  occupied  was  per 
ilous  indeed.  They  were  to  see  that  nothing 
was  brought  into  Frederick  during  the  night 
intended  to  be  conveyed  to  Virginia  for  the 
benefit  of  the  enemy,  and  were  provided  with 
old,  heavy  guns  to  execute  orders.  One  even 
ing  it  was  announced  that  a  splendidly  equipped 
military  company  was  coming  from  Baltimore 
to  pass  over  to  Virginia.  We  asked  Judge 
Nelson  for  instruction  in  regard  to  entering 
the  City.  We  were  informed  that  he  stated 
we  should  allow  them  to  enter,  but  not  suffer 
them  to  tarry  over  night,  but  go  directly  on. 
In  a  short  time  they  came  and  we  marched 
them  through  the  City  to  the  suburbs,  where, 
at  the  "Old  Stone  Tavern"  they  asfeed  to  get 
some  refreshments,  which  was  granted.  We 
then  marched  them  out  to,  and  about  half  a 
mile  down  the  Manor  Lane,  leading  on  to  the 
Point  of  Rocks,  when  about  to  separate  many 
of  us  thought  a  desperate  struggle  would  en 
sue,  as  they  were  fully  prepared  and  we  had 
nothing  but  our  old  guns.  We  quickly  fixed 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  67 

bayonets,  depending  more  on  this  use  of  our 
guns  than  in  firing,  for  in  that  mode  with  their 
modern  arms  they  had  the  decided  advantage. 
It  being  nine  or  ten  o'clock  at  night  and  some 
what  dark  they  could  not  see  well  how  poorly 
we  were  prepared  to  meet  them.  To  our  great 
surprise  instead  of  turning  on  us  and  firing, 
they  gave  three  hearty  cheers  to  the  Home 
Guard  of  Frederick. 

On  Prospect  Hill,  a  short  distance  beyond 
where  we  turn  into  the  Manor  Lane,  Col.  Wm. 
P.  Maulsby,  now  of  Westminster,  resided,  and 
as  we  emerged  from  the  lane  that  night,  the 
Col.  was  waiting  on  horseback  and  invited  us 
all  up  to  his  mansion,  where  tables  ladened 
with  every  kind  of  refreshments  were  spread, 
and  his  estimable  wife  and  daughter  did  all  in 
their  power  to  make  all  spend  a  sociable  and 
pleasant  time.  When  Gov.  Hicks  was  in 
Frederick,  the  Home  Guards  were  marching 
around,  where  he  was,  guarding  the  hotel  the 
entire  night.  These  are  only  a  few  of  the 
incidents  that  occured  during  the  time  they 
served.  Often  those  who  were  not  on  guard 
lay  on  the  floor  of  the  old  barracks  all  night, 
without  covering.  They  were  presented  by 


68  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

the  ladies  of  Frederick  with  a  splendid  stand  of 
colors.  Hon.  Re verdy  Johnson,  of  Baltimoie, 
made  the  presentation  speech  in  the  Court 
House  yard. 

We  could  give  the  names  of  those  who 
were  young  men  long  ago,  and  went  forth  from 
Frederick  in  the  Revolutionary  war  to  battle 
for  our  common  country,  and  came  back,  after 
enduring  almost  superhuman  suffering,  ruined 
in  health,  mere  wrecks,  having  been  as  far 
North  as  Canada,  and  resting  at  night  without 
shelter,  yet  they  gladly  endured  it  all  for  our 
glorious  country.  In  the  wrar  of  1812  Freder 
ick,  including  the  county,  again  organized 
artillery  and  infantry  companies  and  sent  them 
speedily  to  the  front,  and  in  the  late  war  of 
the  Rebellion  she  sent  forth  many  noble  men 
to  battle  for  the  Union  and  a  goodly  number 
yielded  up  their  lives  in  its  defense.  With  sor 
row  we  state  that  some  of  her  sons  on  account 
of  geographical  location  and  family  relation 
ship,  went  into  the  Southern  army. 

Frederick  was  settled  to  a  great  extent  by 
emigrants  from  Germany,  and  they  proved  to 
be  hardy,  industrious,  Christian  people.  They 
soon  erected  churches  and  school-houses.  The 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  69 

German  language  was  spoken  generally 
throughout  the  village,  and  the  religious  ser 
vices  in  the  churches  were  conducted  in  the 
same  language.  But  the  English  as  well  as 
the  German  was  taught  in  the  day  schools. 
One  of  the  churches  built,  when  Frederick 
could  scarcely  be  called  a  town,  yet  stands, 
although  built  in  the  year  1763.  It  is  the  old 
German  Reformed  Church.  True  it  was 
changed  in  the  interior  a  few  years  since  to 
adapt  it  to  Sunday  School  purposes,  but  ex 
ternally  it  has  undergone  but  little  change. 
Its  noble  lofty  spire  still  points  heavenward 
as  in  the  days  of  yore,  and  the  Town  Clock  in 
the  steeple  still  announces  to  the  inhabitants 
that  time  is  rolling  on.  Many  years  ago,  one 
Sabbath  afternoon  during  a  severe  thunder 
storm,  the  steeple  was  struck  by  lightning  but 
not  severely  impaired.  The  English  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  sect  in  the  year  1848 
built  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  one  of 
the  most  comfortable  and  beautiful  churches 
in  the  State  of  Maryland.  The  old  Evangeli 
cal  Lutheran  Church  was  partially  removed 
some  years  ago  and  a  very  handsome  and  im 
posing  new  church,  Gothic  in  style,  erected  in 


70  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

front  of  where  the  old  church  stood.  The  bells 
in  the  belfry  of  this  chnrch  are  peculiarly 
sweet  and  plaintive  in  tone.  We  have  traveled 
considerably,  but  never  heard  any  others  of 
exactly  the  same  sound.  They  were,  I  believe, 
cast  in  England  and  have  considerable  silver 
in  the  composition.  We  have  also  a  ve^  cost 
ly  Episcopal  Church,  the  old  original  church 
in  the  Queen  Anne  style  of  architecture  being 
used  as  a  lecture  room.  The  Methodist  Epis 
copal  congregation  have  also  a  fine  new  church, 
the  original  church  of  Methodism  was  torn 
down  in  the  Summer  of  1886  and  now  private 
residences  occupy  the  site.  We  have  beside  a 
very  neat  and  pretty  Presbyterian  Church.  St. 
John's  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  large  and 
massive,  finished  in  imitation  of  granite  and 
having  in  the  steeple  a  chime  of  bells  of  as 
sweet  tone  as  found  anywhere;  also  Trinity 
Chapel,  a  second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
a  new  brick  church  built  by  the  United  Breth 
ren,  and  a  new,  very  substantial  looking 
church,  built  by  the  German  Baptists.  The 
Salvation  Army  have  built  a  large  frame 
church  or  barracks  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Bentz  streets.  The  colored  people  have  two 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  71 

large  brick  churches,  and  large  congregations. 
The  bells  of  the  several  churches  we  have 
named  have  called  thousands  together  to  wor 
ship  in  earthly  sanctuaries,  who  are  doubtless 
now  singing  Jehovah's  praise  around  his  throne 
in  glory.  The  Court  House  is  a  very  large 
and  conveniently  arranged  brick  building, 
located  in  a  square  surrounded  by  a  grove  of 
forest  trees.  The  old,  ancient  looking  Court 
House  that  occupied  formerly  the  site  of  the 
present  building,  was  a  number  of  years  since 
destroyed  by  fire.  Here  on  the  2  8th  of  Novem 
ber,  1765,  the  first  judicial  decision  was  given 
against  the  constitutionality  of  the  "Stamp 
Act."  The  Jail  is  a  new  and  beautiful  brick 
building,  and  stands  where  a  few  years  since 
the  old  Jail  stood,  with  its  heavy  iron  barred 
windows  and  thick  stone  walls.  Prior  to  the 
erection  of  the  last  building  we  had  to  depend 
for  the  security  of  prisoners  on  an  old  log  Jail. 
The  City  Hall  and  Market  House  combined, 
are  well  worthy  of  notice.  The  lower,  or  first 
story  is  where  the  "Market"  is  held,  and  on  a 
pretty  Summer  morning  a  stranger  would  be 
surprised  to  see  the  long  line  of  wagons  drawn 
up  in  front,  and  the  large  amount  of  every 


72  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

kind  of  produce  brought  in  from  the  rich  sur 
rounding  county.  The  upper  portion  is  used 
for  the  Mayor's  office.  A  large  room  is  nicely 
fitted  up  for  this  purpose,  and  back  of  it  is  a 
magnificent  Hall,  used  for  opera  purposes,  also 
for  political  and  social  meetings.  The  old  Mar 
ket  House,  which  stood  where  the  new  one  now 
stands,  was  built  in  the  year  1769.  We  have 
a  number  of  volunteer  Fire  Companies,  with 
elegant  steam  engines  and  everything  requir 
ed  to  do  efficient  work.  We  have  a  Young 
Men's  Bible  Society,  actively  engaged  in  dis 
tributing  God's  Word;  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  a  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  Good  Templars,  Temple  of  Honor, 
two  lodges  of  Free  Masons,  the  order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias;  tribe  of  Red  Men, 
Knights  of  Honor,  two  white  and  one  colored 
army  posts,  two  brass  bands,  the  Frederick 
City  Cornet,  which  has  acquired  great  reputa 
tion  for  discoursing  splendid  music;  and  Jen- 
kins'  Colored  Cornet  Band,  which  has  been  in 
existence  for  many  years.  We  can  boast  of  a 
number  of  well  conducted  hotels,  the  larger  of 
them  being  the  City  Hotel,  Carlin  House, 
and  Groff's.  The  Frederick  Female  Seminary 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  72 

is  well  worthy  of  notice.  It  is  now  considered 
one  of  the  leading  Female  Seminaries  of  the 
land.  It  is  built  in  the  Corinthian  style  of 
architecture,  and  is  really  beautiful,  and  has 
for  its  principal  a  most  worthy  Christian  gen 
tleman  of  the  highest  intellectual  culture,  Prof. 
Joseph  H.  Apple.  The  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asy 
lum,  built  by  the  State  of  Maryland,  was 
commenced  in  the  year  1871  and  is  located 
here,  and  has  a  large  attendance  of  scholars 
from  all  parts  of  the  State.  Its  principal,  Prof. 
Charles  W.  Ely,  is  a  most  estimable  gentle 
man,  and  thoroughly  qualified  in  every  re 
spect  for  the  position.  It  occupies  the  most 
commanding  site  in  the  city.  From  the  cupola 
you  have  a  view  of  the  county  in  every  direc 
tion  for  a  considerable  distance.  Its  style  of 
architecture  is  in  the  main  Gothic,  and  wins 
the  admiration  of  all  beholders.  We  have  also 
several  Orphan  Asylums,  and  a  short  distance 
from  the  city  is  Monte vue  Hospital,  as  fine  a 
building  as  can  be  found  anywhere  for  reliev 
ing  and  caring  for  the  aged,  the  poor,  the  dis 
tressed.  It  is  heated  by  steam  and  all  the 
food  furnished  the  inmates  is  such  as  any  rea 
sonable  person  might  feel  thankful  to  partake 


74  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 


of.  Some  years  back,  1869,  Mr.  Louis  Mc- 
Murray,  a  capitalist,  came  here  from  Baltimore 
City  and  established  without  asking  the  citi 
zens  to  take  stock,  or  aid  him  in  any  way,  a 
corn  canning  establishment.  He  has  gone  on 
from  year  to  year  putting  up  new  buildings 
and  increasing  his  facilities,  until  it  has  proven 
to  be  a  complete  success,  showing  what  enter 
prise  and  capital  can  do.  It  is  now  one  of  the 
largest  houses  engaged  in  the  business  in  the 
United  States.  In  the  regular  canning  season 
he  gives  employment  to  eleven  hundred  hands, 
and  puts  up,  or  fills  as  many  sometimes  as 
150,000  cans  in  a  single  day.  Near  the  Penn 
sylvania  Railroad,  on  East  street,  Dr.  P.  D. 
Fahrney  conducts  a  large  establishment  for 
the  manufacture  of  the  very  best  black  ink, 
and  for  the  preparation  of  excellent  medicines 
known  as  the  "Victor  Remedies,"  for  which  he 
has  an  extensive  trade. 

A  hosiery  factory  has  recently  been  started 
in  our  midst  by  our  citizens,  and  thus  far  it 
appears  as  though  it  would  prove  quite  a  suc 
cess.  We  have  a  number  of  public  and  private 
schools  in  the  city,  also  the  Frederick  City 
College,  where,  under  able  professors,  a  good 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  75 

solid  education  can  be  obtained,  and  where 
many  men  who  have  taken  high  rank  in 
literature  and  business  circles  were  taught. 
The  Novitiate  of  the  Catholic  Church  is  an  im 
mense  educational  institution  where  students 
are  in  attendance  from  all  sections  of  the  Un 
ion.  Though  Frederick  does  not  cover  much 
more  territory  than  some  years  ago,  yet  it  has 
been  greatly  improved  by  tearing  down  old 
buildings  and  placing  in  their  stead  new  and 
elegant  private  residences.  The  business  men 
have  built  many  splendid  store  rooms,  and 
each  of  our  banking  institutions  now  transact 
their  business  in  new  and  beautiful  buildings. 
How  different  is  this  from  over  a  hundred 
years  ago,  1745,  when  the  town  of  Frederick 
was  laid  out  by  an  Englishman,  and  afterward 
settled  for  the  most  part  by  worthy,  industri 
ous  Germans.  Then  the  streets  were  covered 
with  rows  of  wooden  buildings,  scarcely  a  brick 
building  to  be  seen.  We  have  several  planing 
factories  employing  a  number  of  hands,  several 
furniture  establishments  conducted  on  an  ex 
tensive  scale,  and  two  foundries;  three  factories 
where  fertilizers  are  prepared  to  a  large  amount. 
We  also  have  within  our  corporate  limits  a 


76  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

steam  flour  mill,  where  the  very  best  flour  is 
manufactured  in  large  quantities,  also  the  City 
flour  mill,  operated  in  the  old  way,  located  on 
Carroll  creek,  where  excellent  flour  is  made 
and  furnished  our  citizens;  several  tanneries, 
where  the  best  of  leather  is  manufactured,  and 
a  number  of  establishments  particularly  along 
the  banks  of  Carroll  creek,  where  skins  are 
dressed  and  gloves  are  made  for  wholesale  and 
retail  trade;  some  four  or  five  coal  yards,  where 
every  kind  of  coal  is  furnished,  and  we  have 
several  brick  yards,  where  large  quantities  of 
brick  are  annually  made  and  sold;  also  several 
extensive  Coach  factories,  where  the  very  best 
carriages  of  every  kind  are  manufactured.  A 
large  number  of  useful  and  important  inven 
tions  have  emanated  from  citizens  of  Frederick, 
and  in  art  we  have  artists  of  great  ability,  who 
fully  deserve  the  recognition  they  have  receiv 
ed.  Frederick  City  is  supplied  with  the  very 
best  and  purest  water  brought  from  the  neigh 
boring  mountains  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to 
state  that  purer  water  cannot  be  found  in  this 
or  any  other  land.  The  scenery  surrounding 
Frederick  is  of  unsurpassed  beauty,  and  is  thus 
acknowledged  to  be  by  all  unprejudiced  per- 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  77 

sons  We  have  great  wealth,  and  yet  it  is  for 
the  greater  part  in  the  hands  of  those  advanced 
in  years  who  have  sufficient  and  do  not  care  to 
embark  in  any  enterprise  however  meritorious, 
hence  our  city  in  all  these  years  has  only 
grown  from  a  village  to  a  city  of  about  ten 
thousand  inhabitants.  If  Northern  men  of 
wealth  and  influence  would  settle  among  us, 
how  different  it  would  be.  Why  just  think, 
within  five  miles  of  Frederick  we  have  one  of 
the  loveliest  points  known  to  mortal  man.  It 
is  White  Rock,  from  the  summit  of  which  you 
have  as  lovely  a  view  as  is  possible  for  the  eye 
of  man  to  rest  upon,  extending  into  Pennsyl 
vania  and  Virginia,  with  springs  of  pure,  ice 
cold  water  near,  also  springs  strongly  impreg 
nated  with  iron  and  sulphur  in  the  immediate 
vicinity.  It  could  easily  be  made  a  delightful 
summer  resort,  and  yet  nothing  has  been  done 
to  make  it  such  to  the  present  day.  We  have 
several  railroads  entering  the  city,  making  it 
quite  easy  of  access  and  furnishing  coal  and 
lumber  at  reasonable  rates.  It  was  originally 
intended  that  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
on  its  course  westward  should  pass  directly 
through  Frederick,  but  on  account  of  the 


78  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE. 

treachery  of  certain  parties  wielding  consider 
able  influence  this  purpose  was  frustrated,  and 
three  miles  east  of  Frederick  at  Monocacy 
Junction  its  course  was  changed  and  a  branch 
only  extended  to  our  town.  The  city  of  Fred 
erick  is  not  laid  off  as  regularly,  and  the 
streets  are  not  as  straight  as  you  will  find  in 
many  other  cities;  particularly  is  this  the  case 
with  Patrick  street,  which  would  be  the  pret 
tiest  street  in  the  city,  were  it  not  for  a  con 
siderable  bend  near  the  centre,  which  it  is  now 
too  late  to  remedy.  It  is  accounted  for  from 
the  fact  that  when  the  village  was  first  located 
the  National  pike  leading  westward  ran  in  this 
direction,  and  the  surveying  apparatus  was 
crude  and  imperfect,  hence  the  result.  Carroll 
creek,  a  stream  ordinarily  low,  but  after  heavy 
continuous  rains  rising  to  a  considerable 
height,  passes  through  the  city,  running  east 
ward  in  its  course  until  it  reaches  the  Mono 
cacy.  It  is  spanned  by  seven  iron  bridges  in 
its  course  through  the  city,  entirely  supplant 
ing  the  former  old  unsightly  wooden  structures. 
We  have  moreover  a  beautiful  cemetery, 
Mount  Olivet.  It  is  a  precious  place  to  visit, 
for  here  repose  not  only  the  remains  of  our 


BARBARA  FRITCHIE.  79 

friends  and  relatives,  but  many  of  Frederick's 
oldest  and  most  respected  citizens.  Our  city 
is  remarkably  Healthy,  as  the  health  officers 
record  will  at  any  time  show  that  the  percent 
age  of  mortality  is  less  according  to  the  popu 
lation  than  in  most  cities  in  the  Union.  We 
must  acknowledge,  however,  that  Frederick, 
notwithstanding  its  many  natural  advantages, 
beauty  of  location  and  magnificent  scenery,  is 
not  yet  noted  in  business  circles  for  energy  and 
advancement  and  has  not  increased  in  popula 
tion  commensurate  with  the  many  advantages 
enjoyed.  The  Press  of  the  city,  consisting  of 
three  weekly  and  one  daily  papers,  is  ably  con 
ducted.  The  ability  displayed  in  the  editorials, 
the  general  selection  and  arrangement,  would 
do  full  credit  to  any  city.  By  means  of  tele 
graph  and  telephones  in  our  midst  we  are  en 
abled  to  communicate  with  all  points  with  the 
greatest  ease.  Although  Frederick  has  not 
increased  so  rapidly  in  population,  it  is  and 
always  will  be  a  city  of  considerable  import 
ance,  for  it  is  surrounded  by  a  county  of  the 
greatest  fertility,  producing  almost  every  kind 
of  grain  and  fruit  and  her  agriculturists  are 
men  of  enlarged  views  and  highly  intelligent 


80  WHITTIER'S  HEROINE, 

farmers,  which  is  abundantly  shown  by  adopt 
ing  the  latest  and  most  approved  agricultural 
implements  and  by  the  annual  displays  at  our 
Fair,  held  at  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the  So 
ciety,  on  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  where  fine 
buildings  have  been  constructed  and  where 
almost  everything  that  nature  or  art  has  ever 
produced  is  on  exhibition. 

Not  desiring  to  be  too  lengthy  or  by  any 
means  tedious,  I  will  now  bring  my  description 
to  a  close. 

THE   END. 


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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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27Jan'5, 


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